The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning to Nigerians regarding the sale of a counterfeit Paracetamol Injection falsely labeled as ‘Paracetamol Injection 300mg/2ml I.M I.V Aminoglycoside Antibacterial’.
According to reports, the agency discovered the fraudulent product during a surveillance operation conducted by its post-marketing surveillance (PMS) unit in FCT, Abuja.
In response to the discovery, NAFDAC has directed all zonal directors and state coordinators to intensify efforts to locate and remove the falsified product from circulation within their respective zones and states.
Healthcare professionals, patients, importers, distributors, and caregivers have been urged to exercise caution and remain vigilant.
A statement from NAFDAC revealed, “The falsified product was sampled for laboratory analysis, and the result of analysis conducted on the product by NAFDAC Laboratory Kaduna showed that the product contained only paracetamol.”
Contrary to the label’s claim, Paracetamol Injection is an analgesic and antipyretic used to alleviate mild to moderate pain and reduce fever. It is not an Aminoglycoside Antibacterial, which is a class of antibiotics used to treat severe infections caused by bacteria that are difficult to manage.
Importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and caregivers have been cautioned to scrutinize the supply chain to prevent the importation, distribution, sale, and use of counterfeit products. It is advised to source medical products only from authorized and licensed suppliers, ensuring thorough verification of authenticity and physical condition.
NAFDAC has provided contact information for reporting any suspicions of substandard or falsified medicines or medical devices to the nearest NAFDAC office or via designated channels such as phone and email.
Furthermore, healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report any adverse events or side effects associated with the use of medicinal products or devices through various reporting platforms provided by NAFDAC, including the Med-safety application available for download on Android and IOS stores, or via email.
“Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicinal products or devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med- safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng”
