Lead image for Kenyans warned over fake morning-after pills.
Women and girls who are sexually active have been warned against using a falsified batch of the emergency contraceptive Postinor-2 circulating in the Kenyan market.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) raised the alarm after identifying falsified Postinor-2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg tablets), warning that the medicine may contain incorrect amounts of the active ingredient, no active ingredient at all, harmful contaminants or undeclared substances.
The regulator said the falsified product may therefore fail to provide the intended therapeutic effect, potentially exposing women relying on emergency contraception to unintended pregnancies.
The affected product is Postinor-2, Batch No. T34197R, which falsely claims to have been manufactured by pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter.
In a public alert, PPB advised healthcare professionals to verify the authenticity of their stocks before dispensing them and to quarantine any suspected falsified products.
The regulator identified several differences between the falsified and genuine products. These include the method used to print the batch number, printing and typographical errors in the Patient Information Leaflet, a different carton-sealing method and more intense orange colouring on parts of the package.