BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AS a result of an article published by this media house pertaining to the non-release of a shipment of herbal male enhancement product, the Federation’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Patrick Martin, has issued a press release to the national media which advises that the product poses “a potentially serious health risk to consumers”.
On Thursday (Jun. 5), SKNVibes published an article headlined “Curtis Matthew calls out CMO for male enhancement product”, within which Matthew claimed that Dr. Martin is holding his last shipment of Chao Jimengnan – Super Powerful Man Tablets – and that it was adversely affecting his business and customers.
Choa Jimengnan is said to be one of the leading enhancements for men’s Erectile Dysfunction and Premature Ejaculation without prescription worldwide. It is a registered product within China.
In addition to that allegation, a number of others were made by Matthew against the Ministry of Health and the Customs and Excise Department. Therefore, in an effort to get his side of the issue, SKNVibes contacted the COM, who categorically stated that he must first see it in writing before making a statement.
Consequently, the press release.
The press release points to recall information about the product posted on the Australian Government Department of Health, Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) website, dated March 18, 2011.
The URL is http://www.tga.gov.au/safety/alerts-medicine-superpowerful-man-110318.htm#.U5IgCihCywc
It reads: “The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) advises that the product marketed as Chao Jimengnan 'SuperPowerful Man' tablets poses a potentially serious health risk to consumers.
“TGA laboratory analysis has detected the presence of the prescription-only ingredients sulfosildenafil and tadalafil. The amounts of the prescription-only ingredients are significant and may cause severe side effects.
“People who take 'SuperPowerful Man' tablets may have a drop in their blood pressure, which may cause:
• dizziness
• fainting
• collapse
“These effects may be greater in those consumers taking medication for:
angina
• high blood pressure
• pulmonary artery hypertension, or
• those taking Viagra or Viagra-like products
“Consequently, the TGA has ordered the supplier of this product in Australia, JT Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, to recall this medicine from the Australian market.”
The Australian Department of Health warns that if anyone has these tablets they should not take them, and “if you know anyone who has bought these tablets, please tell them about this alert”.
However, so far, even though Dr. Martin had said he would make a statement only after first seeing it in writing, SKNVibes is still awaiting his response to the allegations made by Matthew.
Matthew claimed that on arrival of his shipment of Choa Jimengnan, he went to have it cleared at Customs but was told that same could not be released “based on the order of Dr. Patrick Martin”.
He was subsequently told that “a letter from the Ministry of Health” was needed before the supplements could be cleared.
Matthew however claimed that he encountered difficulties in acquiring the letter from the Ministry.
“So I took my business licence and a statement from the company that I got the products. After dealing with the Health Inspection Officer, he told me that I needed to go down to the CMO’s office. When I got there he was outside talking and we had a brief discussion.
“I told him about the stuff and he asked me if I’m aware that people are bringing these stuffs from the black market, and I said yes. He said in order for me to get my stuff they have to be regulated and they wanted formulas, because people are complaining. So I asked him if anyone made complaints about the products coming from SK Vitamin Plus, and he said no.”
Matthew said that he was then met with further obstacles in acquiring his products as he was told they would have to be regulated, registered with the Ministry of Health and that the FDA has to be made aware of such products.
Matthew noted that he subsequently returned and provided all the necessary documentation but there was no response from the Chief Medical Officer.
“I wrote him a letter to find out what was going on and then he sent a letter dated February 3, saying that his staff is looking into it.”
Curtis Matthew is a wheelchair-bound entrepreneur who operates a small clothing and pharmaceutical business at the Pelican Mall in downtown Basseterre.
