Authority halts use of tainted medicine
Key ingredient in blood pressure drug poses low risk, experts say
China's top health authority has ordered all medical institutions in China to stop using drugs for treating high blood pressure that contain an impurity that could cause cancer, and ordered them to cooperate with drug authorities in a product recall.
The National Health Commission made the announcement on Monday following a statement by the State Drug Administration on Sunday calling on local drug authorities across China to supervise the recall of all medicines containing valsartan - the active ingredient in certain blood pressure medicines - made by Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co in Linhai, Zhejiang province. Valsartan supplied by other companies is not part of the recall.
