The growing circulation of counterfeit and substandard medicines through street hawking and unregulated outlets poses a serious threat to public health, with many Nigerians potentially taking ineffective or harmful drugs without knowing it.
According to health concerns raised by medical professionals, fake medicines can fail to treat the conditions they are intended for and, in some cases, cause additional harm to patients.
The problem goes beyond where medicines are purchased. Consumers also need to know how to identify suspicious products and verify their authenticity before taking them.
Medical professional Dr. Umoren advised Nigerians to take precautions when purchasing medicines, stressing that the presence of a NAFDAC registration number alone does not necessarily guarantee that a product is genuine.
He recommended checking the NAFDAC number and using available authentication mechanisms, including the NAFDAC Mobile Authentication Service where applicable, to verify medicines before use.
Inspect The Packaging
Consumers are also advised to examine medicine packaging carefully.
Counterfeit medicines may have poor-quality packaging, including broken seals, faded or discoloured printing, blurry or uneven fonts and spelling mistakes.
An expiry date that appears smudged, altered, missing or poorly printed should also raise concern.
Experts say consumers should not ignore small inconsistencies because counterfeiters can make products appear almost identical to genuine medicines.
Beware Of Look-Alike Brands
Another warning sign is the use of drug names or packaging that closely resemble those of established brands.
Counterfeiters may make minor changes to the spelling of popular medicines in an attempt to deceive consumers.
For example, a consumer could encounter a product with a drug name that differs by only one letter from the correct spelling.
Health professionals therefore advise buyers to check both the name of the medicine and the manufacturer before purchasing or taking it.
Examine Tablets And Capsules
Consumers should also examine the physical appearance of tablets and capsules.
Discolouration, cracks, crumbling, unusual shapes or an inconsistent finish may indicate a problem with a medicine.
The imprint on a capsule or tablet should also correspond with the information on the packaging. Any significant mismatch should be treated as a warning sign.
Medicines can also lose potency over time, particularly when they are improperly stored. Consumers should therefore check expiry dates and avoid taking medicines that are past their expiration date.
Proper packaging, including blister packs, can help protect medicines from moisture, oxygen and contamination. This is particularly important in hot and humid environments.
However, packaging alone cannot establish that a medicine is genuine. Where there is doubt, consumers should seek advice from a qualified pharmacist or other appropriate healthcare professional.
Where You Buy Matters
Health professionals continue to warn against purchasing medicines from unregulated sources.
Buying drugs from street hawkers, bus conductors, traffic vendors or informal kiosks exposes consumers to products that may have been improperly stored, expired, counterfeit or otherwise unsuitable for use.
Consumers are encouraged to obtain medicines from licensed pharmacies, hospitals and other authorised medicine outlets.
The wider concern is that a person may correctly identify an illness but unknowingly worsen the situation by taking a counterfeit or substandard medicine.
The fight against fake drugs therefore requires action from regulators, healthcare professionals, medicine sellers and consumers.
Consumers can also play a role by remaining vigilant, asking questions and verifying medicines before taking them.
As concerns over counterfeit medicines persist, the message from health professionals is clear: stay alert, verify before you buy and never compromise on the source of your medicine.
