A Fake Malaria Drug From India Has Been Circulating In Nigeria – NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control has come out to warn Nigerians about the circulation of counterfeit Combiart Dispersible Tablet 20/120mg in the country.

NAFDAC recently had its say via its X account, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to the agency, it has alerted its offices nationwide to begin the immediate mop-up of the fake malaria drug manufactured by Strides Arcolab Limited, based in India, and the product was first discovered in the FCT and Rivers State.

NAFDAC added that its database of registered products has confirmed that the product license has expired.

It read, “This product was discovered in the FCT and Rivers State, during surveillance activities conducted by officers of the Post Marketing Surveillance Directorate of NAFDAC.

The Laboratory report of the analysis carried out on the product revealed that it contained Zero Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients. The product was also observed to have two different date markings. The NAFDAC database of registered products has confirmed that the product licence has expired and the NAFDAC Registration Number on it is wrong and not for the product.

The Artemether and Lumefantrine combination belongs to a group of medicines known as antimalarials. It treats malaria, a red blood cell infection transmitted by the bite of a mosquito. However, this medicine is not used to treat severe or complicated malaria.

All NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the counterfeit products within the zones and states.

Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified medicines or medical devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: [email protected].

Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicinal products or devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med- safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on [email protected].”

WOW.