Hospital sued over tainted medicine

China: Families of patients killed by a fraudulent medical ingredient-maker in April and May 2006 have sued the southern Chinese hospital that gave the toxic injections. They demand more than HKD20.45m (USD2.6m) in total compensation after the hospital gave injections of fake Armillarisni A, made by the Qiqihar No 2 Pharmaceutical based in the country's northeast.

The Qiqihar company used a take syrup supplied by a manufacturer in the eastern province of Jiangsu - the same supplier whose toxic ingredients killed at least 100 people and possibly many more in Panama. Sixty-four patients received the fake Armillarisni A, including 13 whose deaths were "strongly associated" with the infections. The final death count is unclear since some people who took the medicine may have died in less populated areas.

Sources: The New York Times, 6 May 2007; Reuters, 29 May 2007
Asian Casualty Report 10th Edition June 2008 – Gen Re