Singapore - The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has advised the public not to purchase any medicinal product from dubious sources such as street peddlers, unlicensed premises or via the Internet, as the safety, efficacy and quality of such products cannot be assured. Consumers are reminded to be cautious and sceptical about exaggerated health benefits and unrealistic personal testimonials accompanying medicinal and health products that sound too good to be true and to seek professional medical advice when self-medicating.

This advice by HSA arises from recent reports of adverse drug reactions submitted by healthcare professionals suspected to be associated with the use of some traditional medicines. They included blood disorders and liver injuries such as hepatitis and jaundice. Analytical testing confirmed that a number of these products were adulterated with very potent western drugs. Investigations revealed that the products in question were purchased overseas and brought into Singapore by consumers for their own use. The table below shows products found to be adulterated with one or more western medicines and potent drugs controlled as prescription-only medicines.

Reference: Press release, 17 June 2005. http://www.hsa.gov.sg.

Table: Examples of adulterated products