NIGERIA: NAFDAC Exposes Deadly Fake Anti-Malarial Drug In Nigerian Markets
By Onoja Baba, Nigeria
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has blown the whistle on a deadly counterfeit Combiart Dispersible Tablet 20/120mg circulating in Nigerian markets.
The agency uncovered this dangerous scam during surveillance operations in the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State, revealing a shocking lack of active pharmaceutical ingredients in the fake drug.
Laboratory tests confirmed the counterfeit medicine, allegedly manufactured by Strides Arcolab Limited, India, is completely ineffective for treating malaria—a disease that continues to ravage the country.
Even more alarming, the fake drug bears conflicting manufacturing and expiry dates, with batch number 7225119 and a fraudulent NAFDAC Registration Number.
NAFDAC warned that counterfeit medicines like this endanger lives by failing to treat diseases effectively, often resulting in severe health complications or death.
The fake product, labeled as manufactured in June and February 2023 with expiry dates in May and June 2026, has exposed glaring flaws in pharmaceutical oversight.
The agency has directed its zonal directors and state coordinators to launch aggressive mop-up operations nationwide. Importers, distributors, and retailers have been advised to verify their supplies to prevent the spread of this deadly fake.
Consumers are urged to report suspicious products via NAFDAC’s toll-free hotline, email, or the Med-Safety app, as the agency escalates the alert to the World Health Organisation’s Global Surveillance and Monitoring System.