Pharma products containing metformin safe, says MoPH

THE Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has indicated that the results of laboratory analysis conducted on samples of all pharmaceutical preparations containing metformin available in the public and private sectors in Qatar have proven to be safe and free from the N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).

MoPH said it continues to take samples and conducts the necessary analysis in the drug control laboratories affiliated with the ministry for all pharmaceutical preparations that contain metformin that come to Qatar and communicate with international organisations and regulatory bodies in this regard.

This comes as part of the continuous follow-up by the MoPH from what was issued by international organisations and regulatory bodies, as well as after receiving information from the American Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency stating that initial analysis of drugs containing metformin revealed that some of the drugs contain the NDMA substance at higher levels than the permitted rates, and that this substance is considered among the potentially carcinogenic substances.

The MoPH recommended that patients with diabetes continue to use these preparations and not to drop them in order to treat diabetes, and to continue to monitor their health with doctors and healthcare providers. Metformin is a drug used to treat diabetes and its trade name is registered as Glucophage, while NDMA is present in nature but in small and safe proportions.