Hospitals find dirty syringes
The national pharmaceutical organization (EOF) has ordered the immediate withdrawal of nearly 2 million imported syringes following the reported discovery of hairs and mosquitos in batches sent to two Athens hospitals. EOF’s move followed complaints lodged by the Aghia Olga and Sotiria hospitals after staff discovered that the syringes – manufactured in China and India but bearing the European quality standard stamp ‘CE’ – had not been effectively packaged and bore impurities. The Aghia Olga hospital’s management claims it lodged its first complaint four months ago while the Sotiria reported its discovery on Monday. A total of 1.8 million syringes are being withdrawn from hospitals and pharmacies, EOF President Dimitris Vayionas said. Health Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis said that hospital inspections have revealed no additional substandard syringes. He added that he would raise the issue of the presence of a European quality standard stamp on the dirty syringes during next month’s health ministers’ summit in Brussels.
