E-DRUG: Zinc dispersible tablet manufacturers in Asia (2)
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Dear Mr Shah!
I am working as a Pharmacist and Manager Extemporaneous and Aseptic Dispensing unit at Children's Hospital & the Institute of Child Health, Lahore, Pakistan.
I have gone through the site of AED. POUZN seems to be a very good project relating to diarrhoea mangement through water disinfection and zinc supplementation in the developing countries.
You want to know about the manufacturers of dispersible zinc tablets in south asia. From my experience of Extemporaneous Dispensing unit here at Children's Hospital, Lahore, I can tell you that no manufacturer in Pakistan is making any oral zinc-only preparation. It is being dispensed Extemporaneously by our dispensing unit for last 2 years almost. We get dozens of prescriptions everyday from our Gastroenterology & Hepatology outdoor clinic as well as for indoor patients suffering from chronic diarrhoea, malnutrition.
Similarly, patients suffering from Wilson's Disease also require zinc throughout their life as zinc acts as a very effective chelating agent for copper. so using zinc along with penicillamine has proven to be lifesaving for these patients. we have a number of Wilson's disease patients on our regular followup.
Most of our Patients ( paediatric age group ) both suffering from diarhhoea and Wilson's disease,come for Zinc prescription refill, from all over the country.
We dispense Zinc Sachets for these patients.
WHO's recent Guidelines for Diarrhoea management also include use of zinc in paediatrics alongwith the other measures that can be very effective like water disinfection and awareness of importance of hand washing for mothers and children.
Owing to the increasing demand and awareness of imporatnce of zinc supplementation, there is a need to involve manufacturers so that the zinc products can be readily accessible to patients all over the country like ours and in other countries of Asia.
thank you.
Afshan Iqbal,
Pharmacist/ Manager Extemporaneous & Aseptic Dispensing Unit,
Children;'s Hospital & Institute of Child Health, Lahore, Pakistan
afshan iqbal <afshaniqbal2004@yahoo.com>