The Upper East Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), says a type of Postinor 2 with a pink flower label on the pack is not registered.
The Authority, through its Principal Regulatory Officer, Mr Abel Ndego, said "Postinor 2 is a drug we are all familiar with, and we know it is something we use for preventing pregnancies but this particular one with the pink flower, has not been registered by the FDA." He said the FDA could therefore not ascertain the safety and efficacy of the said brand, as it had not gone through the Authority's system."We have also undertaken quality product monitoring of this particular product, and we have noticed that the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient that should instigate the ability of the product to prevent pregnancy is not at the required value. "And so once you use it, you would not get the needed pharmaceutical implication," Mr Ndego said when he addressed participants at the Regional launch of the Goodlife Health Fair in Bolgatanga.
The three-day Fair was organized by the Regional Health Directorate in collaboration with the Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre (NORSAAC), a consortium partner under the USAID Accelerating Social and Behavior Change (ASBC) activity.
The programme was aimed at promoting health and wellness among members of the public and focused on encouraging behaviour change, and improved access to essential healthcare services.It was on the theme: "Promoting good health through uptake of positive health behaviour." Mr Ndego admonished members of the public to buy pharmaceutical products from accredited licensed pharmacies and over-the-counter sale outlets, saying "This way, you are sure that you are buying registered products and the products are stored under the requisite storage conditions." According to him, the efficacy of medicines was directly linked to storage, "Storage affects medicine efficacy very seriously.