NAFDAC warns Nigerians against Indian-made cough syrups
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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has warned importers, distributors, retailers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and the use of substandard cough syrups made in India.
The PUNCH reports that NAFDAC regulates and controls the manufacture, import, export, distribution, advertising, sale and use of foods, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, packaged water, chemicals and detergents.
On October 5, the World Health Organization issued a global alert about four Indian-made cough syrups linked to the deaths of 66 children in The Gambia.
The four products are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup.
The global health body has warned that "the declared manufacturer of these products is Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited (Haryana, India). To date, the declared manufacturer has not provided any warranty to the WHO on the safety and quality of these products.
Speaking to The PUNCH, NAFDAC resident media consultant Sayo Akintola said the products were not registered by NAFDAC and therefore should not be in circulation.
"We alert members of the public that if they come across it in the market, it is not NAFDAC approved and people should avoid it.
When asked if the agency would raid drug markets to make sure the products weren't in circulation, Akintola said, "Our Pharmacovigilance Directorate goes to market as sleuths to ensure that no products that are not NAFDAC approved are in circulation, which is why we warn that a number of drugs have not been approved by the NAFDAC and that Nigerians should avoid them.”
In addition, an alert notice to health care providers and the public issued by the agency and made available to our correspondent stated that all batches of products should be considered unsafe. .
It read in part: "The inferior products in this alert are not safe and their use, especially in children, could result in serious injury or death.
"NAFDAC urges importers, distributors, retailers and consumers to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of substandard cough syrups. All medical products must be obtained from authorized/licensed suppliers. The authenticity and physical condition of the products must be carefully checked."
Please share this story:
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has warned importers, distributors, retailers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and the use of substandard cough syrups made in India.
The PUNCH reports that NAFDAC regulates and controls the manufacture, import, export, distribution, advertising, sale and use of foods, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, packaged water, chemicals and detergents.
On October 5, the World Health Organization issued a global alert about four Indian-made cough syrups linked to the deaths of 66 children in The Gambia.
The four products are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup.
The global health body has warned that "the declared manufacturer of these products is Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited (Haryana, India). To date, the declared manufacturer has not provided any warranty to the WHO on the safety and quality of these products.
Speaking to The PUNCH, NAFDAC resident media consultant Sayo Akintola said the products were not registered by NAFDAC and therefore should not be in circulation.
"We alert members of the public that if they come across it in the market, it is not NAFDAC approved and people should avoid it.
When asked if the agency would raid drug markets to make sure the products weren't in circulation, Akintola said, "Our Pharmacovigilance Directorate goes to market as sleuths to ensure that no products that are not NAFDAC approved are in circulation, which is why we warn that a number of drugs have not been approved by the NAFDAC and that Nigerians should avoid them.”
In addition, an alert notice to health care providers and the public issued by the agency and made available to our correspondent stated that all batches of products should be considered unsafe. .
It read in part: "The inferior products in this alert are not safe and their use, especially in children, could result in serious injury or death.
"NAFDAC urges importers, distributors, retailers and consumers to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of substandard cough syrups. All medical products must be obtained from authorized/licensed suppliers. The authenticity and physical condition of the products must be carefully checked."
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