Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has issued a health advisory over high levels of a dangerous chemical in three medications.
In a statement on Thursday, the MFDA said they have been notified by the South East Asia Region Network (SEARN) that tests conducted by the Food and Drug Administration of Thailand showed high levels of NDMA or N-Nitrosodimethylamine in three medicines.
They are:
Metformin hydrochloride - an oral medication produced by Unison Laboratories Company in Thailand that is used primarily to treat type 2 diabetes
Ranitidine – a heartburn medication manufactured by Medicis Remedies in India
Vitamin A USP 200000 IU – a medicine manufactured by Zee Laboratories in India
NDMA is classified as a probable human carcinogen, linked to liver, lung, and other cancers in animal studies.
The MFDA said that while these three medicines haven’t been imported into the Maldives, it is possible that Maldivians who travel to Thailand may have purchased the medicine there.
“However, we ask for your vigilance towards this, given that Thailand is a popular medical destination for Maldivians, and some may bring in medicines for personal use under certain circumstances,” reads the statement.
MFDA said that authorities will be conducting extensive port checks on prescribed medicine imported into the Maldives as a safety measure.