Media Reports on Medicines Quality - US Pharmacopeial Convention

ampicillin,
cloxacillin,
erythromycin
stearate, nifedipine,
artesunate,
amodiaquine,
mesterolone,
salbutamol,
loperamide, timolol
maleate, lorazepam,
lisinopril, others
Antimalarials
Antimalarials
(Maloxine and
Amalar)
Antimalarials
(Lonart®)
Lagos airport. The drugs were mainly concealed in personal
items such as bedding and undergarments. Laboratory analysis
showed that some of the drugs contained no active ingredient
and others had little ingredient. Visual inspection showed that
the labels had clear differences from the genuine medicines. In a
statement read at a press conference, NAFDAC announced that
any airline conveying fake drugs into the country will have the
airplane as well as the drugs impounded.
At least 28 illegal pharmaceutical companies and patent
medicine stores were shut down in Lagos state in the first week
of June. Offenses included selling drugs without licenses, sale of
counterfeit and fake drugs, and others.
Authorities seized a consignment of fake antimalarial medicines
that were produced in China but labeled “Made in India.”
NAFDAC alerted the public about fake antimalarials (Maloxine
and Amalar) circulating in the country. Genuine Maloxine has
not been imported into Nigeria since 2003, according to the
brand owner of the product, St. Michael’s Pharmaceuticals.
NAFDAC seized 250 tonnes of fake pharmaceuticals and
cosmetics worth USD $2.7 million in Kano.
The Lagos State Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs, and
Unwholesome Processed Foods sealed off seven illegal patent
medicine stores and destroyed about N60 million (USD
$394,000) worth of fake medicines in Mushin Local
Government Area.
NAFDAC sealed two pharmaceutical shops and impounded N10
million (USD $66,500) worth of counterfeit Lonart®, an
Available at: www.thisdayonline.com Accessed
May 15, 2009
Ugbodaga, K. 28 pharmacies shut in Lagos. The
PM News. June 9, 2009. Available at:
www.thepmnews.com Accessed June 10, 2009.
Alexander, J. Chinese firms export fake drugs to
African countries on “made in India” label.
Pharmabiz. June 9, 2009. Available at:
www.pharmabiz.com Accessed June 9, 2009
Ogundipe, S. and Obinna, C. NAFDAC alerts on
fake imported antimalarial drugs. Vanguard. June
16, 2009. Available at: www.vanguardngr.com
Accessed June 18, 2009.
Nigeria says 250 tonnes of fake drugs seized.
AfricAsia. June 21, 2009. Available at:
www.africasia.com Accessed June 22, 2009
Akoni, O. Lagos shuts 7 illegal medicine stores.
Vanguard. Oct 20, 2009. Available at:
www.vanguardngr.com. Accessed Oct 21, 2009
Obinna, C. NAFDAC impounds N100m worth of
fake drugs. Vanguard. Jan 20, 2010. Available at:
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