• Alleges that cancer injection was imported submitting forged waiver of registration

The local agent that had imported the controversial batch of the human blood-based drug human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), which was recently withheld from use, allegedly submitting forged documents, has imported a batch of the Rituximab injection that is administered to cancer patients, using a similar forged document, according to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday (11), the NMRA stated that it had been revealed that the said local agent had imported a batch of the said drug, presenting a forged waiver of registration, in the pretext of the same having been issued by the NMRA. According to the document, a total of 2,250 vials of the said drug had been ordered by the relevant company. The document has a signature, and the title of the signed person is mentioned as the Chief Executive Officer of the NMRA. A seal has also been placed on the document, which however contains errors. In the document, it is mentioned that it had been copied to several officials including an Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Health, the Director General of Health Services, the Director General of Customs, the Director of the Medical Supplies Division, and several other parties.

According to sources, the use of the said drug at hospitals had been withheld with effect from Tuesday (10).