March 3, 2026
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – The Ministry of Health (MoH) issued a public alert on a health product found to be adulterated with undeclared, scheduled poisons, listed in the Poisons Act 1956 after testing by the Laboratory of Pharmacy Section, Department of Scientific Services at the MoH.
The affected health product, Midos Sujin Tonmainin, manufactured by Nam King Drugs at 18, Kawasan Perindustrian Jelutong, Penang, Malaysia was found to be adulterated with Dexamethasone/Betamethasone.
According to the MoH, the adulterants found in this product can cause adverse effects that are potentially hazardous to the people taking them. Unsupervised long-term consumption of potent corticosteroids such as Dexamethasone and Betamethasone can cause increase blood glucose levels leading to diabetes, high blood pressure, cataract, muscular and bone disorders, and an increased risk of infections.
Long-term use of corticosteroids can also lead to Cushing’s syndrome – characterised by a round face or ‘moon face’, and upper body obesity with thin limbs. Consumers who have taken high doses of steroids over a prolonged period of time may suffer from withdrawal symptoms when the steroids are discontinued abruptly. This includes fatigue, muscle and joint pain, fever, low blood sugar, low blood pressure and dehydration.
The MoH has not issued any approval for the importation for the sale of this product. Following these findings, the product is not allowed to be imported and sold in Brunei Darussalam.
The public who have purchased or used this product are advised to stop taking them immediately. They should also consult a medical practitioner if they feel unwell or experience any undesirable reactions as a result of taking this product.
Those involved in the retail of this product (including online retail such as through Facebook) were reminded that it is an offence under the Poisons Act 1956 to sell any product containing any substance controlled under the said Act and the penalty for such an offence upon conviction, is a fine of BND8,000 or six months imprisonment. Furthermore, if a person commits an act that amounts to such a degree of negligence so as to endanger or be likely to endanger human life, then such person shall be guilty of an offence which carries a penalty of a fine of BND16,000 and 12 months imprisonment.
The MoH also called upon the public for their cooperation to report to the Compliance and Licensing Section if any of this product is still found on the market in this country.