Ministry of Health: discontinuation for high blood pressure drug

Jordan

Published: 2018-07-12 19:00

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 11:17


Alternative treatments are already available in the market.
Alternative treatments are already available in the market.

Directoress of the Purchase and Supply Department at the Jordanian Ministry of Health, Dr. Maram Al-Basti, confirmed the precautionary discontinuation of Diostar 160mg tablets (Valsartan), a drug that is used for treating high blood pressure.

The decision was made following the publication by the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) stating that Valsartan of Chinese origin currently contains a carcinogenic agent due to the change of the Chinese company’s manufacturing method.

Al-Basti said that the Ministry started to withdraw the Chinese Valsartan from its hospitals and health centers and that the alternative drugs (Diovan, Arbiten, Vilsar) are now available.

The alternative substance (from the same treatment group) is Candesartan 16mg tablets. In addition, Valsartan of non-Chinese origin will be available through local purchases during the coming week in order to avoid any interruption of patients' treatment.

The Jordanian Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company (JPM) announced that the Chinese Valsartan is no longer available in Jordan.

The necessary internal and external procedures have been taken to ensure that future productions by the Chinese company do not have such issues.

In an earlier statement, JFDA said that the impurities were caused by a change in the manufacturing method by the Chinese company Zhejiang Ltd Pharmaceuticals Hua Hai, which supplies factories and pharmaceutical companies worldwide.