28 Apr 2009
The Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring the voluntary recall at retail level of a batch of Lignocaine HCl Injection 1% (batch no. DW21, registration no. HK- 46784) by Pfizer Corporate Hong Kong Ltd. which is a drugs wholesaler. The product is a local anaesthestic commonly used for minor surgical procedures.
The recall was made after one bottle in a 10-bottle pack of the product was found to be labeled as Sodium Chloride Intravenous Infusion 0.9% by Queen Mary Hospital yesterday.
Investigation has so far revealed that the batch in question, with a total of 5,890 bottles, was manufactured and packed in Australia. It was imported to Hong Kong in November 2008 and 5,096 bottles were supplied to the Hospital Authority, private hospitals and private doctors.
Staff of the DH's Pharmaceutical Service inspected Pfizer and another two wholesalers of the product, namely Zuellig Pharma Limited and Primal Chemical Co. Ltd., and did not detect same irregularity.
A DH spokesman had informed doctors to stop using the product of this batch.
The manufacturer has set up a hotline 8101 1593 to answer clients' enquiries.