Safety of Over-the-Counter HSA-Approved Traditional Chinese Medicine Products

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1895

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 10 MAY 2023

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Ms Rachel Ong

MP for West Coast GRC

Question No. 2995

To ask the Minister for Health whether further investigations will be made on the safety of over-the-counter Traditional Chinese Medicine products that have been approved by HSA, such as Lianhua Qingwen, Qing Fei Clearing Tablet and Qing Fei Pai Du, for consumption by the general population given their widespread use and distribution.

Answer

I believe the Member of Parliament is asking this question due to a recent media report of an individual who developed anaphylaxis after taking Lianhua Qingwen. Investigations are on-going, and there is currently no evidence to suggest the causality of the allergic reaction and consumption of Lianhua Qingwen.

Traditional Chinese Medicine products such as Lianhua Qingwen are natural herbal products that are not regulated like pharmaceutical medicines by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). Allergic reactions may occur in any individual susceptible to the substances present in health products, just as in the case of food.

Nevertheless, HSA will conduct post market surveillance of such products and take necessary actions.