Accra, Dec. 10, GNA- A leading international pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, has launched a new cholesterol-lowering product on the Ghanaian market.
Lipitor (atovastatin tablets), which helps in preventing cardio vascular diseases by reducing the risk of heart attack, was introduced on the international market seven years ago and has received the approval of the US Food and Drugs Board.
Speaking at the launching ceremony in Accra on Thursday night, Prof. Joseph Acheampong of the Department of Medicine, KNUST said the drug was not for everyone especially, those with a history of liver disease, pregnant and lactating women.
Dr. Francis Kwarmin, of the Department of Medicine, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, said in 2003, 17 million died worldwide as a result of cardio vascular diseases with 80 percent of them occurring in developing countries.
He said more medical practitioners were now seeing more of cardio vascular diseases in emergency rooms.
Dr. Kwarmin said hypertension and blood sugar impairment were also risk factors in coronary heart diseases and doctors have been given guidelines to check for cholesterol problems when patients with heart problems present themselves at hospitals.