Contaminated Syrup and Liquid-based Medicines Detected Overseas Not Registered Nor Distributed in Singapore

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is aware of overseas reports of kidney injury or deaths in children that are associated with the consumption of syrup and liquid-based medicines. These incidents were suspected to be caused by the contamination of the medicines with ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol, which are toxic chemicals.

2        HSA would like to inform the public that the affected medicines comprising cough, cold, flu and fever medicines (Annex A of pdf version) are not registered in Singapore. Based on our surveillance, these medicines have not been detected locally so far. We have also not received any serious adverse events reports of acute kidney injury or deaths in children related to the consumption of contaminated syrup and liquid-based medicines from our healthcare professionals. As such, HSA has not stopped the sale or supply of syrup or liquid-based medicines in Singapore.

HSA’s Regulation of Medicines

3        All syrup and liquid-based medicines are required to meet the stipulated international standards of quality, safety and efficacy before they are approved by HSA for sale in Singapore. HSA assesses the clinical studies data, manufacturing and quality control processes, and conducts checks to ensure that manufacturers conform to international Good Manufacturing Practice standards.

4        After these medicines are allowed for sale in Singapore, HSA assures the safety of the products through the following:

• Manufacturers are required to test all batches of these medicines including for levels of contaminants before selling them in Singapore;   
• HSA regularly inspects local licensed manufacturers, importers and distributors to ensure compliance with the required standards; and
• HSA monitors adverse events and conducts risk-based product testing, including for contaminants in medicines.

Public Advisory

5        Although the contaminated medicines on Annex A are not registered in Singapore, some members of the public may have obtained them from overseas or unfamiliar sources. In such instances, they should monitor their health and consult a doctor if they feel unwell. The signs and symptoms of acute kidney injury include:

• Decreased urine output
• Swelling in legs, ankles and around the eyes due to fluid retention
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Confusion

6        Members of the public are strongly advised to exercise caution when buying health products online or from unfamiliar overseas sources, as there is no knowing where and how these products were made and whether they have been contaminated with harmful ingredients. If buying online, members of the public are encouraged to buy them from reputable retailers’ websites or those with an established retail presence in Singapore.

7        HSA will continue to monitor the situation closely and will also step up our surveillance checks to ensure that medicines available locally continue to be safe for use. Should there be any safety concerns detected locally, HSA will alert members of the public soonest possible and take the necessary actions such as recalling the affected medicines or stopping the sale or supply of such medicines.

HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
22 OCTOBER 2022

Download pdf version here 130 KB

Facebook user Jocelyn Chan, shared how she paid $220 to secure a “slot” with a plumbing company, but later cancelled because of the poor service and didn’t receive a refund.

Here is what she said

A word of caution for anyone looking to engage Epi Handyman for their services. We had a very unpleasant encounter with them – contacted them on Tuesday as we urgently needed sink connection services, which they agreed to send a plumbing guy down on Tuesday to fix up for us. Plumbing guy came on Tuesday night and evaluated that there needs to be slight modification to the piping, and that he will go purchase the piping. Customer Service Officer Tom from Epi Handyman said that the plumbing guy will go purchase the part and come on the next day, Wednesday. We were told that they would show us a photo before purchasing, and he asked us to make upfront payment of $220 to secure our slot. We did as told. On the next day, Wednesday, we were told that they don’t have available slots and can only come to settle the issue for us on Thursday evening. Having come so far with them, we agreed.

On Thursday 20 Oct 2022 morning, we were sent this photo by Epi Handyman and told that they had purchased this piping. We were taken aback as we had previously understood they would check with us before buying the pipes. We told CSO Tom that we didn’t want to use an accordion pipe below our kitchen sink – it’s common sense that accordion pipes are not meant to handle waste water with more debris because debris will get stuck in the folds. Also accordion piping will not be able to tolerate water of higher temperature (eg hot/warm water after boiling noodles). Tom told us that he would tell the plumber. I checked with Tom whether they would get the correct piping before installation that night, he said yes, it had been conveyed to the plumber. Lo and behold, when the plumbing guy came at 9pm (way past the agreed time of 6-7pm), he brought this accordion pipe. We told him we had told CSO we don’t accept accordion piping and no we don’t want to install this. He said the CSO did not inform him. We told the plumbing guy we would not want to engage their services anymore, and bade them goodbye (the plumbing guy was rather grumpy about it, but he left).

Since 9pm last night we have been contacting Epi Handyman on WhatsApp and via phone calls (3 times this morning) to return us our $220 since job is not done, but no one is replying our WhatsApp and picking up our calls. As we are at risk of losing our $220 paid for a job not done, we are raising this on Facebook for everyone’s awareness. It is ridiculous that refund via Paynow, which is instantaneous, should take so long, and that our messages and calls should all go unanswered by this service provider.

Feel free to contact me for factual screenshots of the WhatsApp discussions to back up the above series of events.

Source: Jocelyn Chan on Facebook

A fire broke out at Block 260, Jurong East Street 24, at a HDB unit on the fourth storey, where SCDF officers conducted forced entry to enter the unit to fight the fire.

No injuries were reported, and preliminary investigations indicate tha the fire is likely to have been caused by an electrical origin in the bedroom that was burned.

SCDF’s statement on Facebook

[Fire @ Blk 260, Jurong East Street 24]

At about 3:55 p.m., SCDF was alerted to a fire in a 4th floor unit at the above location.

The fire was raging when SCDF arrived. Firefighters had to conduct forced entry to gain access into the unit. There were no persons found inside the unit.

The fire involved contents of a bedroom and was extinguished with a water jet by fire fighters from Jurong Fire Station and Clementi Fire Station. The fire was confined to the affected bedroom.

Approximately 30 residents self-evacuated from the 3rd to the 6th floor of the block prior to SCDF’s arrival.

There were no injuries reported.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the fire is likely to have been caused by electrical origin in the affected bedroom.

SCDF would like to remind the public on some good practices to adopt in the household to prevent electrical fires from occurring:

a) Never overload electrical outlets with electrical appliances;

b) Always switch off appliances when they are not in use;

c) Check the condition of wires regularly. Frayed wires or cracked cords should be replaced or repaired immediately;

d) Do not run wires under carpets or mats and keep wires away from hot surfaces;

e) Use appliances and electrical plugs bearing the Safety Mark. The categories of appliances can be found at http://www.consumerproductsafety.gov.sg;

f) Do not leave batteries or devices to charge unattended for an extended period of time or overnight.

Facebook user Anna Chai shared that she went to Bata to buy a pair of insoles for her shoes and the sales person asked her if she was a member.

She duly replied that she wasn’t, and the sales person then tried to sell the membership to her, citing discounts on her birthday month.

Chai then told the saleswoman that this month was her birthday month, and asked if she joins now, can she get the discount?

She saleswoman then told her that the discount only applies 1 year after she joins.

Here is what she said

I went to Northpoint Bata to get a pair of insole.

The sales person asked me whether I am Bata member or not. I replied no. And I ask her do I need to pay and what is the benefit of the membership,

she replied that will get some discount on my birthday month… So I replied this month is my birthday month, if I joined now, can I get a discount if I purchase anything and she replied only after 1 year then I can enjoy the discount…. 

What a great joke!

Netizens’ comments

• Next time join any membership have to be 1 month before your birthday so you confirm can enjoy your birthday benefits etc.
• Then 1 year later, i come buy bata shoe. Simple as that
• Next year you come, the membership expired. Need to reapply and use for the following year