April 6, 2006	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, April 5: The health ministry has asked all the manufacturers and importers to call back all brands and generics of metamizole, except for Novalgin. A spokesman for the health ministry on Wednesday said that the field officers as well as the provincial health secretaries were directed to ensure compliance of the decision of the Drug Registration Board within 14 days after which action would be taken against the defaulters in the light of the Drug Act, 1976.

The spokesman said that in its meeting last month the Drug Registration Board had decided to deregister all formulations containing metamizol including Novalgin on the basis of reported severe adverse effects and withdrawal in the major countries of the world.

He said instructions had been dispatched to all the members of the Board before implementation and a seven-day time was given for any objection. The notification of withdrawal was issued on March 21.

The implementation of the orders for withdrawal of Novalgin could not be ensured due to a stay granted by the Sindh High Court to Sanofi Aventis Pakistan.