Drug firm to change system after pill loss

Press, 13 April 1978, Page 6

Drug firm to change system after pill loss

'PA Dunedin] Kempthorne Prosser arid; Company, Ltd, will change its! system of disposing of un-l wanted drugs after an accident yesterday when thousands of toxic prescription tablets and capsules were strewn over Dunedin streets. The pills were picked up from K.P.’s pharmaceutical laboratory in Kaikorai Valley Road about 10 a.m. yesterday and were discovered strewn over city streets from Wakari to the city aboutll,ls a.m.

Three types of pill are involved, according to Dunedin’s Medical Officer of Health (Dr P. Hinds). White or red tablets could be a type of mineral salt tablet or a hormone pill. The most toxic is a red capsule which is an anti-rheumatic pill. Dr Hinds said the drugs, particularly the red capsule, were toxic if swallowed in quantity and could induce immediate nausea and vomiting. A fairly high dosage, about 20 for an infant, could

result in convulsions. Dr Hinds said. Dr Hinds said that most of the pills had been disposed of but he expected some would be lying along grass verges and fences. “It is important to see this sort of thing properly handled. We will go into the matter at great length,” Dr Hinds said. “We will look at the transportation and disposal.” Kempthorne Prosser has already decided to change its system of drug disposal after the accident, according to Mr D, D. Clayton, general manager of its pharmaceutical division.

The dumping was done by Maxwell Brothers, Ltd. Mr Clayton said that this firm appreciated the "special nature of our refuse.” The truck was a mini skip that compressed rubbish but was apparently faulty. “We will totally change our system. It will be fully supervised by Kempfhorne’s personnel,” Mr Clayton said. “I think we will use our own! trucks.’’

Mr Clayton said dumping drugs was part of Kempthorne’s "quality control procedure.” “From time to time, because of our stringent standards we find either the drugs are too old or they are abnormal and must be rejected,” he said.

After the discovery of the pills over Dunedin streets yesterday, Dunedin Citv Corporation mechanical street sweepers were used to sweep the pills into the gutters. Four Fire Service trucks then washed them into the drains. Six police constables then followed on foot and picked up pills that had not been washed away.

“Most were cleared up before children came out of school. The job was finished by 5 pan.,” Constable P. Stevens said.

Warnings were broadcast and issued to school children in the areas affected not to touch the pills. Many parents in the affected areas kept younger children indoors.