Health

Minister alerts citizens on substandard medicines in circulation.

by Fru William
11 Jan 2026 12:18
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File photo of fake drugs being displayed in a health facility

The Minister of Public Health Minister, Dr Manaouda Malachie, has put citizens on the alert regarding what he says are substandard medications in circulation. He issued the warning in a recent release which he said is based on a report of the World Health Organization, WHO.

He reminded citizens that the WHO has expressed concerns about the proliferation of counterfeit pharmaceutical products and the serious risks they pose to patient safety.

According to the minister, the WHO has identified specific batches of medicines that do not meet required quality standards or have been falsified.

Among the products, he cited IMFINZI (durvalumab) injection 500 mg/10 ml, a drug commonly used for cancer treatment; HEALMOXY capsules 500 mg, an antibiotic formulation; FENTANILO HLB (fentanilo citrato) 0.05 mg/ml, a strong opioid analgesic; and SIMULECT (basiliximab) injection, which is often used in organ transplant patients to prevent rejection.

Minister Manaouda emphasised that the use of such medicines can have grave consequences for patients, ranging from therapeutic failure to severe adverse reactions and even death.

He noted that falsified medicines may contain incorrect dosages, harmful substances, or no active ingredients at all. These deficiencies, he said, makes them particularly dangerous, especially for patients with chronic or life-threatening conditions.

The minister called on all stakeholders in the country’s healthcare system to exercise heightened vigilance. He particularly directed the appeal to doctors, pharmacists, nurses, hospital administrators, private and public health facilities, as well as pharmaceutical distributors and suppliers.

He urged them to carefully verify the sources and authenticity of medicines before prescription, dispensing, or administration.

The public health boss equally called for close collaboration with regulatory and control services, stressing the importance of promptly reporting any suspected cases of falsified or substandard medicines to the competent authorities.

Such reporting, he said, is crucial in enabling swift investigations, product withdrawals, and the protection of public health.

Dr Manaouda encouraged members of the public to remain cautious when purchasing medicines, particularly from informal markets or unauthorized vendors. He reiterated that medicines should only be obtained from approved pharmacies and health facilities.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3667 of Thursday January 08, 2026