Alert issued on Mong Kok clinic

November 28, 2011

The Department of Health today issued an alert about a Chinese medicine practice in Mong Kok which prescribed drugs containing undeclared Western medicines.
 
Clients of the clinic’s Chan Kwok-wing should be alerted if they have been supplied with a type of green or orange tablet, particularly for management of allergic conditions like eczema. They should stop taking them and consult healthcare professionals for advice as soon as possible.
 
The Government Laboratory has confirmed the detection of undeclared Western medicines betamethasone and chlorpheniramine at therapeutic ranges in those tablets.
 
A complainant has reported to the Department of Health her seven-year-old girl developed symptoms of steroid overdose after taking the tablets supplied by Chan. Chlorpheniramine was found in the green tablet, and both betamethasone and chlorpheniramine were found in the orange sample obtained from the patient.
 
Prolonged use of betamethasone, especially in high doses, causes Cushing Syndrome, with patients having steroid symptoms and high blood pressure, high blood sugar, muscle atrophy, peptic ulcers and even osteoporosis. The drug, a potent form of steroid, requires a doctor’s prescription and can only be sold in a dispensary, under the supervision of a pharmacist.
 
Chlorpheniramine is an over-the-counter Western drug commonly used for relieving allergic symptoms. The most well known hazardous side effect is drowsiness and, therefore, its use ought to be made known to clients in order for them to take precautions.
 
As there is no record to show Chan is either a registered medical practitioner or a pharmacist, and there is the suspicion that he may be practicing Chinese medicine in a Chinese medicine practicing group, the department is supporting the Police in the ongoing investigation of the clinic.
 
Information collected so far suggests the two types of tablets have only been supplied to the girl but contact tracing and medical surveillance will be instituted if necessary.
 
Pending the final outcome of the investigation work, the department will seek advice from the Department of Justice regarding the possible illegal practice of Chinese medicine, and possession of unregistered drugs and a Part 1 poison.