Dear BMDA Members,
At present, we are not aware that any of the products on island are affected by the recall, but the pharmacy inspector, BGA and Pharmacy Council are continuing to explore the situation to confirm there is no risk. Once the risk assessment is complete, there will be an explanatory notice to the public.
In the first instance and in the meantime, physicians should recommend that their patients contact the pharmacy that supplied the medication for specific information and advice.
When the Ministry receives medication recall information, we inform the hospital pharmacy manager, BGA and Pharmacy Council (who informs Pharmacy Association and pharmacies). When BGA receives recall information (which includes batch/lot numbers and expiration dates) they inform the pharmacies with instructions as to what to do with any affected product. I have been informed that most of the ACE/ARB medications used on the island are imported from the UK and not the US which is where all of the recalls have originated. It appears that the European product has not been affected.
We will inform the community more fully when facts are confirmed.
Cheryl Peek-Ball, MD, MPH
Chief Medical Officer