Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services is recalling paracetamol (panadol) tablets that were “likely issued in error” to adult patients who visited Punjas Health Centre in Lautoka between 9am and 3pm Monday, as it launches an investigation into the incident, promising to take stringent measures.
Taking the tablets, the ministry says can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and diarrhoea, urging all patients who were seen at the health centre at the above times to report immediately to either the health centre or any nearby health facility to replace their medicine.
In an update this hour, the ministry said that a small number of adult patients who visited the centre at the time were “prescribed oral paracetamol (PANADOL) tablets for treatment, were likely to have been issued in error with another medication tablets that has a very similar appearance to the paracetamol tablets.”
“The staff of the health centre has also started to contact patients who had earlier provided their contact details, for advice and issue of proper treatment.”
Affected patients have also been advised to seek immediate medical attention for their treatment, and to immediately contact the Punjas Health Centre on mobile phone number 9929349, or present to Punjas Health Center for further assessment and care.
“The ministry is undertaking an immediate investigation into the incident and will take stringent measures to address any identified deficiencies in practice to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future.”
