A staff member of Li Chung Shing Tong (Holdings) Ltd offers a refund to a customer at the manufacturer's office Friday. The Department of Health ordered the manufacturer to recall all of its Po Chai Pills, in both capsule and bottle forms, Wednesday. EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY

The manufacturer of Po Chai Pills, a household Traditional Chinese Medicine with a history of nearly a century in Hong Kong, Friday admitted it was "inappropriate" that contamination of its capsules was hidden from the Department of Health (DoH) for two months. Li Chung Shing Tong (Holdings) Ltd said it "apologizes for the inconvenience caused", after the DoH ordered the manufacturer to recall all of the product, in both capsule and bottle forms Wednesday.

The DoH's testing finding Thursday confirmed its Singaporean counterpart's inspection result, which showed that phenolphthalein and sibutramine were contained in the capsule form of the medicine. The former was once used for treating constipation but was banned in 2001 for its cancer-causing effect. The latter is used as an appetite suppressant, but has side effects that include elevated blood pressure, tachycardia, psychosis and convulsion, said a spokesperson of the DoH.

The department's preliminary investigation showed the source of contamination likely to be in one batch of raw materials which was bought from a new source on the mainland for the first time in May 2008.

Two batches of contaminated capsules were exported to three markets, including Singapore, Hong Kong and Macao, the spokesperson said.

The DoH indicated it was "a precautionary but necessary measure" to recall both capsule and bottle forms of the pills, because the products are widely used by the community, including vulnerable children and the elderly.

The Macao Authority also recalled Po Chai Pills in both two forms Thursday.

The DoH revealed that the manufacturer had already found the problem as early as this January and started a recall from retailers on its own, without informing the DoH.

The DoH has already asked the manufacturer to submit progress reports on the recall and will monitor the situation closely.

William Chui, Vice President of Society of Hospital Pharmacists, indicated there was no ordinance or law against the concealing of similar problems with Chinese medicines in Hong Kong. "It (the handling of the situation) can only rely on conscience," he said.

Some Po Chai Pills' customers went to the manufacturer's office for refunds after the recall. "I won't buy it again, although the brand has been in Hong Kong for decades. They (the manufacturer) didn't disclose it for such a long time," one of them said.

A 40-something housewife said she was very shocked by the news. "I grew up with the brand. When I was young, my mom always kept some (Po Chai Pills) at home just in case," she said.

Po Chai Pills is a Traditional Chinese Medicine product made from several herbs developed by Li Shiu Kei in Foshan, Guangdong in 1896. It has been well-known among Chinese all over the world as a medicine that can be used as a remedy for the relief of indigestion, heartburn, vomiting, diarrhoea, and bloating. It is also effective as hangover prevention.

(HK Edition 03/27/2010 page1)