National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Ekpenyong Emmanuel
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert regarding the circulation of counterfeit Paludex tablets and suspensions in Nigeria. The counterfeit products, identified as Paludex Artemether/Lumefantrine tablets (80mg/480mg) and Paludex (Artemether/Lumefantrine) dry powder for oral suspension (180mg/1080mg), are labeled as manufactured by Impact Pharmaceutical Ltd and marketed by MD Life Sciences Ltd.
Laboratory tests conducted by a WHO-prequalified laboratory in Germany and NAFDAC revealed that these products contain zero percent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API). This means they are ineffective and can pose significant health risks, especially for pediatric use.
NAFDAC emphasized the dangers of counterfeit medicines, stating, “The illegal marketing of medicines or counterfeit medicines poses a great risk to the health of people. By not complying with the regulatory provisions, the safety, quality, and efficacy of the products are not guaranteed. Also, poor-quality pediatric formulations or medicines in general have the potential of causing treatment failure when the API content is below the prescribed dose.”
The agency has directed its zonal directors and state coordinators to conduct surveillance and remove the counterfeit products from circulation. NAFDAC urges distributors, healthcare providers, and patients to exercise vigilance and avoid purchasing or administering the fake drugs.
*What to Do:*
– _Check authenticity_: Verify the authenticity and condition of any medical product before purchase or use.
– _Authorized suppliers only_: Obtain medical products from authorized suppliers.
– _Report suspicious products_: Report any suspicious products to NAFDAC.
– _Seek medical attention_: If you have used the counterfeit products, seek medical attention promptly from a qualified healthcare professional.
