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- Dubai 04:26 05:44 12:20 15:47 18:50 20:08
The Ministry of Health has suspended the dispensation of Avandia in the UAE. (SUPPLIED)
The UAE Ministry of Health issued a circular on Sunday to all concerned bodies suspending the dispensation of Avandia, a drug for Diabetes Type II.
The ministry’s decision to suspend all products containing Rosiglitazone was taken after a meeting that was attended by the manufacturers and local distributors of Avandia.
Dr Ameen Al Amiri, CEO for medical practice and licensing at the ministry, said the drug control directorate at the ministry made extensive discussion on the drug as soon as it received recommendations from the competent organisations.
European and American drug control bodies had made recommendations to limit the use of the medicine over fears that it increases the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes.
Meanwhile, the ministry of issued a warning over Body Beautiful 1, an herbal weight-loss product, due to the health threat it poses to those suffering from heart problems.
The ministry called on hospitals and pharmacies to stop selling such kinds of products because of their dangerous side effects, according to the Emarat Al Youm newspaper.
The ministry said in a circular issued on Sunday that Body Beautiful 1 contains two chemical substances that are extremely harmful to health.
Dr Al Amiri said: “The Department of Health in Hong Kong issued a warning not to use this herbal product because it contains two substances that are not mentioned on the label. These are Phenolphthalein and Sibutramine.”
The ministry said the laboratory that controls therapeutic products in Australia conducted an analysis of the product that proved the existence of Sibutramine, which constitutes a risk to patients with diseases of heart and arteries.
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