Alberta Health Services issued a statement yesterday (Wednesday) in an attempt to clear the air on the imported Turkish acetaminophen that reportedly caused “adverse reactions in children.”

AHS says the medication was approved for import by Health Canada, and no patients – infants and those requiring neo-natal intensive care included – were hurt or fell ill as a result of its use. 

The decision to stop importing the product was made due to a higher risk of clogging feeding tubes due to a thicker substance according to AHS. 

The Health Authority also confirms the product, from Turkish pharmaceutical company Atabay, was used at AHS sites for about two months before staff reverted back to the usual medication. 

The NDP in Alberta are calling on AHS to dump what supply is left.

In December, 2022, the Alberta government spent 75 million dollars to procure five million bottles of the Atabay product. 

It was delayed with issues from Health Canada because of product labeling, and the first 1.5 million bottles didn’t arrive in Alberta until the spring of 2023. By then, the shortage of this medication was over. The other 3.5 million bottles haven’t been delivered. As for the bottles that did arrive only about 9,000 were sent to hospitals and 4,700 to pharmacies.