Watchdog removes substandard medicine

Substandard medicines sold at two community health centers in Huangpu District have been confiscated by the district market watchdog.

The Nicorandil tablets used to treat angina were sold at the Dapuqiao Subdistrict and Ruijin No. 2 Road Subdistrict community health centers, according to the Huangpu District Administration for Market Regulation.

The tablets failed for dissolution rate, it said. 

The Dapuqiao Subdistrict community health center purchased 100 boxes of the tablets from Sinopharm Group Co Ltd in January at 47.8 yuan (US$6.83) per box, according to the administration.

Twenty-four boxes had been sold, and eight were used for tests, according to the administration. The remaining 68 boxes were confiscated.

There was no illegal profit as the drug was sold at 47.8 yuan (US$7)  per box, the administration said.

The health center was ordered to rectify irregularities.

The Ruijin Road center purchased 550 boxes of the medicine from the same company at the same price, and 468 had been sold, the administration said.

Sixteen were used in tests, while the remaining 66 boxes were confiscated.

Again, there was no illegal profit and the center was also ordered to rectify irregularities.

In a separate case, the Longshui Rd N. outlet of Laobaixing pharmacy chain was fined more than 4,700 yuan by the Xuhui District Administration for Market Regulation for selling substandard traditional Chinese medicine.

The illegal profit was 190 yuan, while the product value was 2,385 yuan, according to the administration.