The federal government yesterday alerted Nigerians on circulation of two confirmed falsified versions of Quinine Sulphate in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
It said the falsified drugs contain zero active pharmaceutical ingredients.
It explained that though there is no evidence of the falsified drugs in Nigeria, members of the public should report to the nearest office of The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) if the drugs are spotted anywhere, including hospitals and pharmaceutical shops.
The red alert was contained in a statement by Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Boade Akinola.
She said Quinine Sulphate is used for the treatment of Falciparum Malaria in the region, meaning it will not be effective and may lead to other health challenges.
Akinola explained: “These products, which were initially discovered by a local NGO, failed the preliminary field screening and were submitted to a WHO pre-qualified Quality Assurance laboratory.
“Subsequent analysis showed that neither product contained any of the stated active pharmaceutical ingredients.
“If you are in possession of these products, please do not use them.
“If you have taken this falsified product or suffer an adverse effect following its uptake, please seek immediate advice from a qualified healthcare professional and report the incident to NAFDAC.”
She assured government has stepped up vigilance within the drug supply chains in the country.
The numbers to contact are: +234-8037881120; +234-8055o56727;
+234-8035902679.
“Details of the product are shown below
1) Product Name
Quinine Sulfate 300 mg
Number of Tablets per container
1000
Batch Number
10H05
Expiry Date
09/2018
Date of manufacture
09/2014
Manufacturer
Novadina Pharmaceutical Ltd, London, United Kingdom.
2) Product Name
Quinine Sulphate 300mg
Number of Tablets per container
100
Batch Number
F4387
Expiry Date
11/18
Date of manufacture
12/14
Manufacturer
CAD Pharm, India”