The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a critical public alert warning Nigerians about the circulation of falsified batches of a popular emergency contraceptive, Postinor-2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg).
The alert was triggered by a report from the Society for Family Health (SFH), the official Marketing Authorisation Holder for the product, which confirmed that the suspect batches were not imported or distributed by the company.
According to the agency’s detailed statement, there are clear visual differences between the genuine and the counterfeit products.
The falsified version features a pin verification sticker with a noticeably smaller font size and contains a critical spelling error; the word “Verify” is incorrectly printed as “Veify.” An additional error was found on the packaging, where the phrase “distributed in Nigeria” is also misspelt.
NAFDAC emphasised the severe health risks associated with using these counterfeit medicines. The fake products may contain harmful or substandard ingredients, an incorrect dosage of the active ingredient levonorgestrel, or dangerous contaminants from unregulated and unsafe manufacturing processes.
The potential consequences of using these fakes are grave and include contraceptive failure, toxic side effects, severe allergic reactions, organ damage, long-term complications to reproductive health, and even death.
The agency stressed that counterfeit medicines are illegal, unregulated, and untested, making it impossible to guarantee their safety or effectiveness.
The public is strongly advised to only obtain Postinor-2 from verified and licensed pharmacies or healthcare providers. NAFDAC has directed its zonal directors and state coordinators to immediately intensify surveillance and begin a mop-up operation to remove the counterfeit batches from circulation.
While investigations into the source of the falsified products are ongoing, the agency has also urged all distributors, retailers, and healthcare professionals to exercise extreme vigilance, ensure they source medicines from legitimate suppliers, and carefully inspect the authenticity and physical condition of all products before dispensing them to patients.
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cc: Daily Post NG
