February 5, 2001
The Department of Health (DH) today (February 5) urged persons who had taken a "homemade" herbal pill prescribed by a Chinese medicine practitioner in Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long, to call DH Hotline 2961 8883 (seven lines) for lead screening.
The DH Hotline is manned by health care professionals between 9 am and 9 pm daily and telephone recording is available during the remaining 12 hours of a day.
A spokesman for DH said: "The pill in question, 'Bao Ning Dan', was apparently prescribed by Mr Wong Kim-ping who practices Chinese medicine in Kingswood Richly Plaza, Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long."
DH on January 19 received a report of lead poisoning concerning a woman who had taken the pill purportedly prescribed by Mr Wong.
Epidemiological investigations and chemical analysis of the pills subsequently seized from Mr Wong revealed high level of lead.
The spokesman said that there was insufficient information to identify people who had taken the pills. As a precautionary measure, DH was appealing to persons who had been prescribed "Bao Ning Dan" by Mr Wong to come forward for screening for lead intoxication and, if necessary, for appropriate treatment.
"This is an isolated case. It is limited to patients who had taken 'Bao Ning Dan' prescribed by the Chinese medicine practitioner. 'Bao Ning Dan' which Mr Wong prescribed, is not a proprietary Chinese medicine sold over-the-counter. Hence, there is no cause for undue alarm.
"DH will provide the screening for lead intoxication free of charge. Effective treatment is available for persons who need it.
"DH has adequate manpower and facilities for screening and arrangements will be made for persons to be referred to hospitals/clinics for appropriate management, if necessary. It is not necessary for these persons to go to Accident and Emergency Departments of public hospitals in the first instance," the spokesman said.
"DH has a surveillance system for checking heavy metals in proprietary Chinese medicine. Since 1995, 99 percent of samples of proprietary Chinese medicine tested had been found to be within acceptable limits. Samples which failed the tests were immediately withdrawn from the market," the spokesman said.