,
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been informed by World Health Organization (WHO) that nine (9) confirmed falsified Chloroquine products are in circulation in the WHO region of Africa. Nine (9) reports of different confirmed falsified Chloroquine products from three African countries were received by WHO between 31st March and 2nd April, 2020. The three African Countries are Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger.
The details of the nine (9) identified falsified Chloroquine products are:
| Identifiedin | Product name | Stated manufacturer | Batch number | Expiry date | Date of of manufacture |
| Cameroon | ChloroquinePhosphate 100mg | Jiangsu PharmaceuticalInc. | 660 | 05/2021 | 05/2017 |
| ChloroquinePhosphate 250mg | Jiangsu PharmaceuticalInc. | 660 | 09/2022 | 09/2018 | |
| ChloroquinePhosphate 250mg | AstralPharmaceuticals | EBT 2542 | 10/2022 | 01/2019 | |
| DemocraticRepublic of
Congo |
CLOROQUINE250mg | Dawa Limited | 1605059 | 04/2023 | 05/2019 |
| ChloroquinePhosphate
250mg |
Brown &BurkPharmaceutical limited | 065622 | 11/2022 | 11/2018 | |
| Niger | Samquine100(100mg) | None indicated | NBJT01 | Oct-2022 | Nov-2019 |
| ChloroquinePhosphate
Tablets B.P 100mg |
None indicated | HV1116 | May 2023 | June 2019 | |
| ChloroquinePhosphate
Tablets B.P 100mg |
None indicated | NBJT02 | Oct-2022 | Nov-2019 | |
| Niruquine 100mg | None indicated | Unknown | 08/2022 | 09/2019 |
The nine (9) falsified Chloroquine products do not contain the correct amount of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API). They were not manufactured by the manufacturers whose names are stated on the product labels.
The batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates on the falsified products do not correspond to genuine manufacturing records. The manufacturers whose names are stated on the falsified product labels do not exist.
The pictorial presentations of falsified Chloroquine products identified in Cameroon are:
It should be noted that falsified Chloroquine Phosphate 250mg manufactured by Jiangsu Pharmaceutical Inc and Astral Pharmaceuticals circulating in Cameroon were in Public Alert No. 004/2020 – Alert on Falsified Chloroquine Phosphate 250mg Tablets Circulating in Cameroon issued by NAFDAC on 4th April, 2020.
The pictorial presentations of falsified CLOROQUINE 250mg and Chloroquine Phosphate 250mg identified in Democratic Republic of Congo are:
The pictorial presentations of falsified Chloroquine Phosphate 100mg identified in Niger are:
The use of falsified Chloroquine products may result in treatment failure and even death.
Genuine Chloroquine registered by NAFDAC is used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and extraintestinal amebiasis.
All importers, wholesalers and retailers are implored to desist from illegal importation, distribution and sale of the falsified Chloroquine products. Any importer, wholesaler, retailer caught dealing with falsified chloroquine or any other falsified medicines will be severely sanctioned.
Surveillance has been strengthened by NAFDAC at all ports of entry to prevent illegal importation of the falsified Chloroquine products
The Agency has heightened surveillance in the thirty-six States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to prevent distribution and sale of falsified Chloroquine products
Health care providers and other members of the public are advised to be vigilant and contact the nearest NAFDAC office with any information on the falsified Chloroquine products.
Anybody in possession of the falsified Chloroquine products should submit them to the nearest NAFDAC office.
Consumers are advised to report adverse events related to use of medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, 0800-1-NAFDAC (0800-1-623322) TOLL FREE from all networks or via pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng
NAFDAC……..Customer-focused, Agency-minded!!!
Signed Management
