Augmentin in UAE is safe, says ministry 

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) DUBAI - The Ministry of Health has said that the commonly used antibiotic for infants, Augmentin, is safe for use.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Dr Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practices and Licensing at the ministry, assured that the Augmentin Antibiotic Syrup 165mg, manufactured by Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) is safe and does not cause any side effects.

The statement was issued after a news agency stated that the government of Hong Kong had instructed GSK to stop manufacturing infant antibiotics after they were found to contain chemical products used in the plastic industry. The agency also mentioned that the Hong Kong government had said that tests done on Augmentin syrup - a joint British, French product - contained unsafe plastic products known as DIDP.

The tests also found a high concentration of chemical products, twice higher than the amount specified by the European Pharmaceutical Association. The chemical products could cause damage to infants' liver and hormones.

GSK has confirmed that it purchased the Augmentin Syrup 165mg available in the UAE from Saudi Arabia and not from affected batches found in Taiwan which is originally manufactured in France.