Poisoning cases due to herbal brews show rise

Cases of poisoning due to herbal drugs are raising concern among health authorities regarding their improper sale and usage.

Doctors in Sharjah and elsewhere said in recent weeks they have seen several cases of poisoning due to wrong administration of herbal medicines.

"A patient came with severe damage to the liver after he tried to treat hepatitis C using a Chinese herbal medicine," said Dr Sameh Fakhry, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Consultant at the Ministry of Interior's Medical Services.

"Many people take herbal medicines without seeking proper diagnosis."

Dr Sassan Behjat, Coordinator of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine Unit at the Ministry of Health (MoH), said herbal drugs could be toxic if they are not used properly.

"Herbs are not always safe, they can be very toxic if not used in the correct way. In addition they can inherit qualities, related to the method of cultivation and environment which remain unknown to the consumer."

He said responsibility for a proper use lies with patients, who should seek professional counselling. Herbal remedies and alternative medicine treatments in general should not be sold in pharmacies but at specialised centres.

"There are no specialised outlets for herbal, homeopathic, Chinese and other kinds of alternative medicine in the UAE. Alternative medicine products are often sold by pharmacists who are trained only in allopathic medicine and do not know how to help the consumer."

Dr Behjat suggested pharmacists should be trained in alternative medicine to provide proper counselling to customers. He said consumer rights protection, education of alternative medicine to professionals, production of quality and cost effective medicines was discussed last week in Italy during a meeting organised by the WHO and the Italian health authorities.

"Protection of consumers against misleading advertisement is one of the major challenges for health authorities today," said Dr Behjat, who chaired the event.

"The resurgence of interest in traditional and alternative medicine around the world is posing a major threat to consumers who are bombarded with advertising." He said the WHO meeting aimed to provide general principles on how to develop reliable information about traditional medicine and complementary and alternative medicine (TM/CAM).

Another objective was to issue recommendations on how to promote and ensure proper use of safe and effective TM/CAM therapies. Its recommendations will be published in the coming weeks.
"The document issued at the meeting will help the MoH implement its policies and promote proper use of TM/CAM.

"But we have to stress that in the Gulf region, the UAE is in the forefront with regards to regulation of this field. The MoH has involved the Directorate of Municipalities to regulate registration and sale of TM/CAM products in the UAE."

ENSURING SAFETY

WHO meeting discusses consumer rights
* A meeting organised by the WHO and the Italian health authorities recently discussed consumer rights protection, education of alternative medicine to professionals, production of quality and cost effective medicines among other things.

* The WHO meeting aimed to provide general principles on how to develop reliable information about traditional medicine and complementary and alternative medicine.

* Another objective was to issue recommendations on how to promote and ensure proper use of safe and effective TM/CAM therapies.