• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

12 Outlets Raided in Health Ministry Blitz

Posted on: Thursday, 13 October 2005, 03:00 CDT

By SHARMILA VELLA

PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry raided 12 outlets, following

information that Sildenafil, a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction

was an ingredient in a traditional medicine sold at the premises.

The drug is the main ingredient used in Viagra.

During the raids, boxes of the medicine worth about RM300,000 were

seized from the distributing outlets in Selangor (seven), Kuala Lumpur

(one), and two each in Pahang and Johor.

One of the outlets raided yesterday by the Ministry's Pharmaceutical

Services Division was a shop in Puchong, which was converted into a

factory.

Division deputy director Dr Ahmad Mahmud said Sildenafil is classified

as poison under the Poisons Act 1952, adding that too much of it could be

harmful.

"The drug is patented and if it is proven there is Sildenafil in the

traditional medicine which we seized, the drug was probably smuggled into

the country.

"We will be conducting tests on this product and if we find Sildenafil

in the medicine, we will prosecute those involved in its sale," Dr Ahmad

told a Press conference.

He said the Ministry had been keeping a two-month surveillance on the

sale of the medicine.

Dr Ahmad said when the medicine was first submitted for registration in

1999, it was approved as it contained traditional ingredients meant for

beauty purposes.

It was then marketed through direct-selling.

When the Ministry discovered that Sildenafil had been added to the

medicine, it decided to act, said Dr Ahmad.

Source: Malay Mail

More News in this Category