Enforce the ban on fake Ciprobiotic 250 - FDA urged

By Esi Kaba, GNA
Accra, May 1, GNA - African MCH Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has appealed to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to go ahead and ban the importation of fake Ciprobiotic 250, an antibiotic, unto the Ghanaian market.

The NGO, which seeks to promote healthy life, said it was amazed that after the FDA issued a press statement on August 25, 2015 against the use of the drug, it had failed to conduct checks to ensure that the fake drug (Ciprobiotic 250) was off the shelves.

Addressing the press on the need to stop the importation of the drug, Mrs Christiana Mawusi Seyram, Founder, African MCH Foundation, expressed dismay as to why a drug, which the FDA said had not undergone the necessary evaluation and could therefore not guarantee its quality, safety and efficacy, should still be on the market after almost a year.

'The situation is so sad that the prohibited drug is being distributed or sold at registered retail pharmacies and wholesale outlets that are supposed to be regulated by the Ghana Standards Authority, the Pharmacy Council and the Food and Drugs Authority,' she said.

She said the fake drug, if taken, could lead to the body becoming antibiotic resistant and, therefore, could not respond to the use of even proper antibiotics, increase one's sickness and even cause death.

She appealed to the FDA to immediately get rid of all the fake Ciprobiotic 250.

'We will also want to appeal to the FDA to ensure compliance in the industry so that prescription drugs are not sold on the counter to prevent possible fatalities as well as ensuing that chemical and drug stores stop selling prescription drugs,' she said.

GNA