The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has urged the public to be vigilant against substandard and falsified medicines and report any suspected cases through its Med Safety mobile application.
The Authority said the app provides a convenient platform for consumers to report fake or poor-quality medicines, as well as any side effects or adverse reactions experienced after taking medication.
According to the FDA, reports from the public play a critical role in monitoring medicine safety and protecting public health.
“Your report helps the FDA monitor medicine safety and protect public health,” the Authority stated, encouraging citizens to contribute to efforts aimed at ensuring safer medicines for all.
The FDA outlined key signs that may indicate a medicine is fake or of poor quality, including missing, incorrect or inconsistent information on product packaging such as batch numbers and expiry dates.
The Authority also warned consumers to look out for unusual or poorly made packaging materials, broken or tampered seals, and tablets or capsules with unusual appearances.
In addition, the FDA highlighted clinical warning signs that may suggest a medicine is ineffective or compromised. These include an unexpected lack of therapeutic effect in patients who were previously stable on the same medication, sudden deterioration in health outcomes without clear explanation, and clusters of treatment failures occurring within a short period.
The FDA stressed that identifying and reporting suspected counterfeit medicines is a shared responsibility between regulators, healthcare professionals, and the public.
The Authority encouraged consumers who encounter suspicious medicines to use the Med Safety app to submit reports, helping strengthen medicine surveillance systems in Ghana.
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI