NAFDAC has confirmed that two fake batches of emergency contraceptive pills are being sold. These fake pills were not imported by the official distributor, the Society of Family Health (SFH), which is responsible for the real product.
NAFDAC explained how to tell the difference between the real and fake pills.
One clear sign is the spelling mistake on the verification sticker. On the fake product, the word “Verify” is wrongly spelled as “Veify,” and the text is smaller. On the real product, the text is larger and correctly spelled.
There’s also a spelling error on the back of the fake pack. It says “Distnibuted in Nigeria” instead of “Distributed in Nigeria.”
The real product has batch number T32458H, while the two fake ones are labeled T36184B and 332.
The real product was made in February 2023. The fake ones show August 2024 and March 2023 as their manufacturing dates.
Both the fake and real products wrongly share the same registration number: 04-6985.
NAFDAC warned that using fake Postinor 2 pills could result in the pill not working, exposure to dangerous chemicals, unexpected side effects, missed chances to prevent pregnancy, and long-term harm to reproductive health.
The agency also said that unknown substances in fake medicines can cause allergies, organ damage, or even death.
NAFDAC reminded the public that counterfeit drugs are illegal and not tested for safety. Their effects can’t be trusted.
NAFDAC advised everyone to only buy Postinor-2 from trusted pharmacies or licensed healthcare providers.
