FDA warns of fake malaria drugs in circulation
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has alerted the public of fake Coartem tablets in circulation in some Western and Central African countries.
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Coartem is a registered antimalarial medicine manufactured by Novartis.
According to the FDA, although an on-going post market surveillance activity has not as yet detected the presence of the said fake Coartem tablets in Ghana, it want the public to be on the lookout.
A statement signed by Mr Seth Seaneke, acting Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Drugs Registration and Inspectorate at the FDA said they received the alert from the World Health Organisation (WHO) exchange system.
He gave details of the fake batches of the drugs as Batch Number: F1901, Expiry Date: 01.2014, and Manufacturing Date: 01, 2012.
He explained that the packaging was in English and bears a falsified stamp of the Nigerian National Medicines Regulatory Agency (NAFDAC).
He gave the details of the second one as Batch Number: F2261, Expiry Date: 01.2014 and Manufacturing Date: 01.2012 and said the packaging was also in English and bears falsified green leaf logo of the Affordable Medicine Facility – Malaria (AMFm) programme.
He asked the general public, especially importers, distributors and retailers of pharmaceutical products to take note of the aforementioned batches of Coartem Tablets and avoid patronising or stocking them.
Mr Seaneke advised any individual or body in possession of the aforementioned batches to hand them over to the nearest FDA office
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