Muscat: The Ministry of Health issued a safety warning circular for the repair and replacement of parts of Philips respirators due to a problem of decomposition of PE-PUR sound-reducing sponge particles that may enter the air path of the device and could be swallowed or inhaled by the user.
The Ministry of Health, represented by the General Directorate of Pharmacy and Drug Control, has issued a safety warning circular for all continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) devices and bi-level positive air pressure (BiPAP) devices that were manufactured before April 26 of this year, and which are being distributed through Muscat Pharmacy. The local agent of the manufacturer in the Sultanate of Oman.
The circular was issued after Philips Respironics issued a safety alert about the aforementioned devices and issued a voluntary field safety corrective action for the above devices due to two issues related to the polyurethane sound reduction sponge (PE – PUR) used in Philips continuous and non-continuous respirators. The polyurethane sponge may decompose into particles that may enter the air path of the device and be swallowed or inhaled by the user, and the polyurethane sponge may release some gaseous chemicals.
Philips is committed to correcting this problem through a comprehensive repair and replacement programme for these products through its local agent, Muscat Pharmacy said.
