NAFDAC made the warning in a public alert tagged “Public Alert No. 02/2023,” on the agency’s website on Monday, noted that laboratory analysis of samples of both products, undertaken by national quality control laboratories of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, found both products contained unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants.

It said the manufacturer of both products is Marion Biotech Private Limited, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The public alert read, “To date, the stated manufacturer has not provided guarantees to the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the safety and quality of these products.

“Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal. Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, the inability to pass urine, headaches, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury, which may lead to death.

“These substandard products are therefore unsafe, and their use, especially in children, may result in serious injury or death.”

NAFDAC also urged manufacturers of syrups that contain excipients including propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, and/or glycerin/glycerol, to test for the presence of contaminants such as ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol before use in medicines.

“Although the products are not in the NAFDAC database, importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers are advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of the substandard (contaminated) syrups.

“All medical products must be obtained from authorized/licensed suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked,” it said.

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In a statement on Monday, NAFDAC said the falsified antibiotic has batch number 562626, a manufacturing date of April 2021 and an expiry date of April 2024.

It added that the medication has a NAFDAC registration number of 04-1928 but failed to meet labelling requirements.

“No inscription ‘manufactured by’ is written on the label, only the address. Manufacturing and Expiry dates do not meet the acceptable format. No MAS scratch number for verification. The logo ‘gsk’ is not properly positioned as on the original,” the agency said.

The Food and Drug agency noted that the aforementioned shows that the product is falsified and counterfeited.

NAFDAC added that it has notified all its branches across the country to carry out surveillance and mop up the falsified Augmentin tablets.

“Please note that the genuine Augmentin 625mg has legible product labeling information including date markings – expiration and manufactured dates, batch number and NAFDAC registration number,” the statement reads.

“NAFDAC’s advice to wholesalers, distributors and pharmacies is that medicines should be obtained from authorised/licensed suppliers, increased vigilance is hereby encouraged within the supply chain to avoid infiltration of the falsified product. The products’ authenticity, physical condition and labels should be carefully checked.

“NAFDAC implores healthcare providers to ensure vigilance to prevent the administration of the falsified products on unsuspecting patients. Members of the public in possession of the above suspected counterfeit product are advised to discontinue sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

“Healthcare providers and the public should notify the nearest NAFDAC office of any information concerning the distribution, sale, and use of the falsified version of the Augmentin product.”

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National Assembly, on Thursday, appealed to the members to call off their ongoing strike in the interest of all Nigerians.

The lawmakers assured the resident doctors that their grievances would be resolved in the shortest possible time, Daily Dates Nigeria reports.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, and his House of Representatives counterpart, Yusuf Tanko Sununu, made the appeal during the flag-off of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) sensitization campaign in eight states.

Oloriegbe said, “I appeal to our resident doctors to please go back to work. A strike by any doctor can lead to loss of lives and any life lost can never be regained.

“Every issue about the strike is mostly about money, and we can always pay arrears, but there are no arrears to life.

“In view of this, whatever the issues are, they can always be resolved through dialogue. I call on them to go back to work while discussions are going on.

“The issues are with the Ministry of Health. They have held a meeting, and meetings will continue to ensure that the issues are resolved.”

“It is important that Nigerians have access to health care and access to qualified and competent doctors in our public hospitals. I hope they will listen and yield to this call and ensure that services are restored.”

The Chairman, House Committee on Health, Yusuf Sununu also said “We do know that there are some issues raised and we are working hard to ensure that those issues are resolved within the shortest possible time.

“I do hope that they will get the cooperation of everybody, including the Executive arm of the government so that we can fast-track the calling off of this strike.”

NAFDAC earlier announced that it has embarked on a public sensitisation campaign across the nation, to combat the high rate of unregulated products and their inherent dangers to public health.

NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye lamented the alarming rate at which substandard products were being paraded.

Adeyeye noted that it has become crucial for the agency to embark on a significant sensitisation campaign to regulate substandard products in Nigeria.

According to her, the awareness campaign is important to promote and protect the health of citizens.

The NAFDAC boss earlier disclosed that significant sensitisation campaigns were scheduled to hold in eight states of the federation, adding that the first phase of the sensitisation campaigns will be held in selected states across the country from August to September 2021.

Adeyeye noted that the sensitisation campaigns are being organised in phases as the agency intends to cover all 36 states of the federation within available resources.

She also mentioned that a well-informed, sensitised, and educated citizenry is the bedrock of effective regulation.

According to her, citizens need to be informed about the deleterious effects of unwholesome food, falsified medical products, harmful cosmetics, poor water, and other substandard products.

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