A Hong Kong woman who suffered an adverse reaction to a recalled herbal product is planning to seek more than 1.4 million yuan (US$200,000) in compensation from the manufacturer and a hospital that treated her, according to a local newspaper.

The woman who was identified as Yung will sue Heilongjiang-based Wandashan Pharmaceutical Co and Yunnan-based Yuxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, her lawyer Luo Ke told Spring City Evening Post.

The herbal product Ciwujia was blamed for three deaths in Yunnan Province on October 6, the report said. It is processed from Siberian ginseng and is injected into the body.

The State Food and Drug Administration recalled or confiscated the drug on October 17.

Yung started to have an adverse reaction on July 25 after receiving the injection. She almost died, but the hospital did not pay close attention, nor did it report to the local health authority in a timely manner, the report said.

The woman has spent more than 100,000 yuan on hospital expenses. She is determined to recover the money and additional compensation, the lawyer told the newspaper.

(Shanghai Daily October 27, 2008)