The Digest:
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has denied reports claiming it secretly banned the antibiotic Amoxicillin in Nigeria. In a public notice, the agency stated the claim is "entirely false," clarifying that while it issues safety alerts and recalls for specific substandard batches of medicines, there is no blanket ban on the drug. NAFDAC cited recent targeted alerts for products like Amoxivue capsules and certain suspensions due to low active ingredients, but emphasized these actions do not constitute a general prohibition. The agency urged the public to rely only on its official communications.
Key Points:
- Patients and healthcare providers are reassured regarding the availability of a critical and commonly prescribed antibiotic.
- False reports could cause unnecessary drug shortages and market panic, impacting public health costs.
- The regulator maintains its authority and clarifies its procedural actions, while quelling public misinformation.
- The denial highlights the challenge of combating health-related rumors and the importance of official channels.
- The clarification comes in response to circulating claims that could have disrupted treatment nationwide.
NAFDAC's swift rebuttal aims to prevent public alarm and ensure continuity in the supply chain for essential medicines.
Sources: PM News
