Expression – The Daily – Valsartan removed from pharmacies

Health directors, Central Pharmacy, local manufacturers, pharmacies, and distributors were instructed to proceed with the withdrawal immediate batch of the 16 pharmaceutical specialties concerned by this defect.

Attention! Medicines made from Valsartan are now unfit for consumption. An impurity has been identified in the active principle of its manufacture. The alert in question was given the day before yesterday by the Ministry of Health via a communiqué made public. "The alert is not only about drugs marketed in Algeria but around the world," said the ministry. "The decision to withdraw Valsartan's international medicines has been taken following the presence of an impurity: N-nitroso dimethylamine (Ndma) contained in an active substance manufactured by the Chinese company Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals", explains the ministry in its statement. "This substance is clbadified as probably carcinogenic but it does not represent an acute risk to the patient", adds the same source, noting that the ministry has taken all the precautionary measures that are necessary. "In this context and as is done on a global scale, the Ministry of Health has educated the directors of the health and the population of wilayas, the Central Pharmacy of the hospitals (PCH), the manufacturers concerned, pharmaceutical pharmacies as well as the operators in charge of the distribution to immediately withdraw batches of the 16 pharmaceutical specialties concerned by the lack of quality. These batches have been removed from Inpha Medis, Merinal, Nad Pharmadic and Taphco Laboratories, "the ministry said. As a reminder, Valsartan is indicated in the management of heart failure, high blood pressure or recent myocardial infarction. In addition, to the patients who take these medications, the Ministry advised them to contact their referring physicians. "As this is a precautionary withdrawal, patients on Valsartan-based treatment should not make any decision without referring to their doctor about the appropriate course of action," said the same source. . Moreover, and in the same vein, many cardiologists doctors yesterday in many countries in the world called the patients who have this medicine at home to continue its consumption.
The National Agency of the drug in France said in a statement that patients should not stop their treatment. "Patients treated with one of the Valsartan-based medicines should not stop their treatment or take their boxes to the pharmacy without the advice of their treating physician," she said. As a reminder, the alert stopping the marketing of medicines made from Valsartan caused a climate of panic in Europe.
"The number of patients who follow this treatment is huge," says one. To prevent damage, the European Union (EU) promised to open an investigation and find a new drug in the next few hours.
The French National Medicines Agency said in a statement that 'another medicine made from Valsartan not concerned by the defect in question will be offered at the level of pharmacies.'
It should be recalled that such an alert does not occur for the first time in Algeria. Many medicines have been withdrawn from pharmacies, either following the expiry of their expiry date or as part of an international alert. The Ministry of Health has so far always managed such situations. Indeed, he always manages to calm the sick. First, by disseminating information and sensitizing patients on time, then via the precautionary measures it takes. To replace the medications in question and to keep track of treatments for patients, the Ministry uses two solutions: the change of supplier when it comes to a manufacturing defect and the replacement of these drugs by others having the same effect, when it comes to expiry of the expiry date. The development of the pharmaceutical industry in Algeria in recent years has somehow put at ease the public authorities. More than 50% of medicines consumed in Algeria are produced locally. This allows the government to afford the necessary medications in a timely manner. It should be remembered that the government's goal in terms of the pharmaceutical industry is to reach 70% of the national market by 2019. The private sector, which has the lion's share in this sector, says fully prepared for the challenge of drug self-satisfaction.