Before You Buy That Anti-Malarial, –NAFDAC

Next time you go to the pharmacy to buy antimalarial for a loved one, you need to take precautions, NAFDAC – the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has warned.

The agency says you must take note of a particular antimalarial, ­ counterfeit – combiart (Artemether Lumefantrine 20/120mg) Dispersible Tablet in Nigeria, saying it would be a risk to patronise it.

It gave the warning through a public alert on its website marked: No. 043/2024,

IT gave the date of the manufacture of the drug to be Feb. 2023 and June 2023, Batch No: 7225119 with NAFDAC Reg No: A11-0299, and May 2026 and June 2026 as expiry dates.

NAFDAC gave the manufacturer name and address as Strides Arcolab Limited, 36/7, Suragajakkanahalli, Indlavadi Cross, Anekal Taluk, Bangalore- 562 106, India, adding that all its zonal directors and state coordinators had been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the counterfeit products within the zones and states.

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It advised importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and caregivers to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain and avoid importation, distribution, sale, and usage of the counterfeit product.

“Healthcare professionals and patients are similarly encouraged to report adverse or side effects related to the use of medicinal products or devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng.,” it said

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NAFDAC generally warned Nigerians to be safe by ensuring that all medical products be obtained from authorised/licenced suppliers and that products’ authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.

IT added that all healthcare professionals and consumers should report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified medicines or medical devices to the nearest NAFDAC office.