Ministry of Health concerned about detection of liquid dosage medications containing Ethylene Glycol and Diethylene Glycol

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the World Health Organisation are concerned with the detection of liquid dosage medications containing Ethylene Glycol (EG) and Diethylene Glycol (DEG) in the South Pacific region.

The Ministry says the medication is also identified as ‘Trillium Guaifenesin Syrup or TG Syrup packaged in 100mg/5ml which came in Batch: SL 429 and has an expiry date of October 2023.

They say this substandard medication is considered dangerous, toxic and can be fatal for members of the public by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Medical Devices and Product Quality Laboratories.

Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury all of which may lead to death.

The cases are from at least seven countries, associated with more than 300 fatalities in three of these countries.

Most are young children under the age of five.

It was manufactured by QP Pharmachem Ltd, in India.

The Ministry of Health says they are not aware of this medicine in circulation in Fiji, however, members of the public are being advised that such a drug has been found in the South Pacific region and could have entered our borders outside the normal approval process.

These contaminants are toxic chemicals used as industrial solvents and antifreeze agents that can be fatal even taken in small amounts, and should never be found in medicines.

According to the WHO, over the past four months, countries have reported several incidents of over-the-counter cough syrups for children with confirmed or suspected contamination with high levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is working in line with WHO protocols and working with the Fiji Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Services to ensure that pharmacies around the country inform the Ministry as soon as possible if;

• This specific product is in stock;

• Any pharmacy has imported and distributed/sold this product;

• Any pharmacy has any other syrup/product from the same manufacturer;

• There are any other liquid dosage medications with ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG) in your stock;

The Ministry of Health & Medical Services wishes to advise pharmacies around the country to immediately cease distribution and dispensation of this medication if in stock.