The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians to the circulation of falsified postinor 2, a widely used emergency contraceptive pill.
In a statement on Tuesday signed by Mojisola Adeyeye, its director-general, NAFDAC said it received a report from the Society of Family Health (SFH), the product’s authorised Nigerian distributor, which confirmed that the company did not import that product batch.
The agency said the noticeable differences found include a smaller font size in the text on the pin verification sticker, the wrong spelling of the word ‘verify’, and the wrong spelling of ‘distributed’ behind the pack.
The details on the counterfeit type 1 include: batch number: T36184B; manufacturing date: 08/2024; expiry date: 08/2028; and NRN number: 04-698.
The details on the falsified type 2 include batch number 332, manufacturing date 03/2023, expiry date 02/2027, and NRN number 04-698.
NAFDAC said the risks of administering falsified postinor 2 include failure of contraceptive effect, toxic or harmful contaminants, unpredictable side effects, delayed or missed opportunity for genuine emergency contraception, and potential long-term reproductive health impact.
The agency added that unexpected side effects included allergic reactions, organ damage, or death.
“Counterfeit medicines are unregulated, untested, and illegal, making their safety and efficacy impossible to guarantee. Patients should only obtain Postinor-2 from verified pharmacies or licensed healthcare providers,” the statement reads.
NAFDAC said investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the falsified products and directed all zonal directors and state coordinators to conduct surveillance and remove the counterfeit postinor 2 from circulation.
The agency also advised distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and caregivers to exercise caution and vigilance in the supply chain and to ensure that all medical products are obtained from authorised suppliers and carefully checked for authenticity.
