icddr,b stops using 'rice-based saline'

Star file photo

The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) has decided to stop use of glucose and rice-based saline obtained from the icddr,b Employees’ Multipurpose Cooperative Society.

The decision has been taken by the icddr,b management, pending the cooperative’s registration with the Directorate-General of Drug Administration, which regulates oral saline under the Drug Act of 1982, according to a statement by icddr,b today.

“We have no concerns about the quality of the oral saline produced by the cooperative, but we have contracted an alternative supplier until this matter is resolved,” said icddr,b’ Executive Director Professor John D Clemens.

Patient care in icddr,b hospitals in Dhaka and Matlab of Chandpur will not be interrupted during this transition, icddr,b said.

Dr Anowar Hossain, chairman of the staff cooperative, an independent registered entity, separately managed by the icddr,b employees, said they have stopped production and sale of all formulations of oral saline immediately.

“We are now in the process of obtaining registration,” he said.

Recently, a mobile court of Rapid Action Battalion sealed off an illegal factory in the capital that produced fake oral saline and marketed those in the name of icddr,b.

Following the incident, it was found that icddr,b Employees’ Multipurpose Cooperative Society is not registered with the Directorate-General of Drug Administration.

Oral saline was developed by icddr,b in the late 1960’s, and since then, is estimated to have saved at least 50 million lives worldwide.