CHINESE PROPRIETARY MEDICINE

Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Minister for Health what further measures besides random checks and investigations into complaints his Ministry is considering to ensure that 9000 products that are categorised as Chinese Proprietary Medicines or health goods are safe for public consumption.

BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: My Ministry has a regular quality surveillance programme whereby our health inspectors sample preparations of Chinese Proprietory Medicines (CPM) every month to determine their content of heavy toxic metals and whether they are adulterated with any western medicines. If, on analysis the samples are found to contain excessive heavy toxic metals or any western medicines, the products are seized and destroyed. The public will be informed through the press and advised not to purchase or consume these products and to discard the affected products in their possession. The importer or wholesaler or retailer will be charged and prosecuted in court.

My Ministry also makes weekly random inspections of Chinese medical halls to ensure that preparations ordered to be taken off the shelves are not put on sale.

In addition, all CPM advertisements in the published media must be approved by the Ministry of Health. My Ministry also checks for false claims or claims for cures which are prohibited under the law.

My Ministry is currently looking into the need for stricter measures for the control of CPM to be introduced in the future.