Health ministry to probe sale of online abortion pill

subramaniam

KUALA LUMPUR: The health ministry has pledged to work with the Royal Customs Department and the police to detect deliveries of a dangerous pill being sold online that is claimed to result in foetal abortions.

Speaking to reporters after a Ponggal Festival at the MIC headquarters here yesterday, Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam said the sale of the Misoprostol (Cytotec) pill would however be difficult to detect and act upon as it likely involved sales from abroad.

“Pills like this require a doctor’s prescription. If the Internet sale is made in this country, we can detect it and take action.

“In some cases, the sales take place abroad or the pills come through the post. That is the challenge we face.”

His ministry however has pledged to work together with the Royal Customs Department and police to detect any package containing such pills and to investigate whether these pills were being sold in the country.

The pills, meant to treat gastritis, have been hotly discussed on social media as it can easily be obtained through online purchases.

On the issue of certain wheat flour brands that contained a harmful bleaching agent, Subramaniam said his ministry was in the midst of taking samples for immediate analysis.

He said if the flour samples were found to contain the bleaching agent in quantities above permitted levels, the sale of the flour would be withdrawn.

“It is an offence under the law to use a non-permitted chemical substance to change the colour of flour. If it is proven that a chemical substance was used (in quantities) above the permitted level, then we will take action, including withdrawing the sale of the flour and stopping the manufacturing operations,” he said, adding that the ministry would also take legal action.

Dr Subramaniam said this to reporters when asked for his response to the list of flour brands claimed to contain a bleaching agent that could be detrimental to health. The list was issued by the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM).

On another development, Dr Subramaniam said 2,600 medical, dental and pharmacology graduates has since December last year been appointed in stages for contractual employment in the government sector.

“However, filling up of the contractual posts depends on how fast the Public Service Department can create these posts,” he said.

Prime Minister Najib Razak, when tabling the 2017 Budget, announced the appointment of 2,600 graduates in the three fields on a contractual basis by December 2016 due to the shortage of permanent posts.

 

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