DUBAI 31 March 2017: The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention has denied rumours about cancer treatment with Vitamin B17, stating that the information circulated in a video clip on ability of this vitamin to heal cancer, is misleading.
Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Under-Secretary for the Public Health Policy and Licensing at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, stressed that such rumours lack the scientific facts proven by cancer associations or global health authorities.
He warned about circulating such misleading videos before contacting the Ministry of Health or local health authorities, which are concerned with announcing the approved treatments in the UAE, especially relating to a dangerous disease that leads to the deaths of millions of people around the world.
The health official explained that both amygdalin and a modified form named laetrile have been promoted as alternative cancer treatments, often using the misnomer Vitamin B17. “Actually it is not a vitamin and cannot be used as a treatment for cancer,” he said.
FDA ban
Al Amiri noted the United States Food and Drug Administration, FDA, had banned the alleged medical reports that relate Vitamin B17’s ability to destroy cancer cells. It has withdrawn many products from the US markets after allegations about the effectiveness of the substance, said Wam.
He also stressed that such misleading information can cause panic among patients, and make them shun legitimate drugs. He noted that he had personally received a number of calls from some patients and officials to clarify the truth regarding these rumours, as well as the effectiveness of Vitamin B17 in the treatment of cancer.
Dr. Al Amiri underlined that the World Health Organisation and other international health institutions have confirmed that stages of cancer treatment begin with surgical removal, then chemotherapy and radiation therapy practices, as practised at the most prestigious specialist medical centres.
Early Detection
He added that the early detection of cancer is the fastest way to achieve a high rate of recovery, which is promoted by all initiatives and projects launched by the Ministry of Health and other UAE prevention and health authorities.
Dr. Al Amiri noted that the treatment procedures followed at public and private hospitals comply with advanced international practices while highlighting the availability of relevant drugs, once they are accredited by international organisations in the US and Europe.
He further added that the awareness of UAE society regarding the misleading rumours over medical products, supports the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Protection. Dr. Al Amiri urged public to verify any information concerning the safety of medical products registered in the country by communicating with the ministry through phone No. (042301000), e-mail (Pv@moh.gov.ae), or through the Tamini website (http://www.moh.gov.ae/ar/Services/Pages/TaminiService.aspx).