Ministry of Health issues two instructions

Iman Abdullah, Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Health and Prevention issued two circulars to all health facilities and healthcare practitioners in the private health sector.

The first circular has an additive warning against the medical product registered with the MoH, named Tetralysal 300mg Hard Capsules, because of its potential side effects, such as visual disturbances, headaches, high blood pressure Intracranial depression and nightmares, and a severe allergic condition which may occur and cause joint pain, rash or systemic lupus erythematosus.

The Ministry told the healthcare practitioners to take precautions when using the drug and requested the manufacturer to amend the internal leaflet of the drug to include all the warnings and side effects mentioned.

In another circular, MoH lifted the suspension of the product Amlopress (Amlodipine) 5mg Capsules, which is not registered with the Ministry.

The Ministry said it received from the Health Council of the GCC countries stating that the Saudi Food and Drug Authority lifted the suspension on the registration of the product after the manufacturer proved its quality and effectiveness by submitting a bioequivalence study.

A recent report said the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) revealed that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine would be available in its affiliated centres for those wishing to strengthen their immunity or obtain the third booster six months after taking the second dose of the Sinopharm vaccine.

 MoHAP stressed that the option is left to those who had already received the vaccine.

According to Dr Hussain Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for Health Centres, Clinics and Public Health, the MoHAP made it possible for those already vaccinated with Sinopharm to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine six months after taking the second dose of the first vaccine with the aim of strengthening their immune system in the face of the pandemic.

The booster, however, must be given based on a prior appointment, he said.