HEALTH MINISTRY APPROVES USE OF ALL DIALYSIS MACHINES

ZAGREB, Dec 29 (Hina) - A Croatian Health Ministry expert commission for hemodialysis on Saturday approved the use of all types of hemodialysis machines, including those manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Baxter, recommending that the enforcement of preventive measures introduced in November this year be continued. The Health Ministry yesterday instructed all hemodialysis centres to temporarily put out of use dialysis machines manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Baxter and dialysis needles produced by Nissho Nipro Corp. The decision was made after the US Food and Drug Administration published information on its official web site about possible defects in Baxter dialysis machines. The Ministry today issued a statement saying all hemodialysis procedures since October 14 have been completed safely. The commission has also established that hemodialysis needles Safe Touch AVF, manufactured by Nissho Corp, which were also mentioned in yesterday's instruction, have not been used in Croatia. Health Minister Andro Vlahusic told Hina Croatia had experienced a very traumatising event (the death of 23 hemodialysis patients) due to lack of responsibility of big phramaceutical companies and yesterday's decision was a preventive measure. (hina) rml