FDA Warns Against Unapproved Postinor 2 with Pink Flower Label

Bolgatanga: The Upper East Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has issued a warning regarding a version of Postinor 2, an emergency contraceptive, that features a pink flower label. This specific version has not been registered with the FDA, raising concerns about its safety and effectiveness. According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Abel Ndego, the FDA's Principal Regulatory Officer, emphasized that the unregistered product has not undergone the necessary processes to verify its safety and efficacy. He stated, "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." Mr. Ndego further explained that quality checks revealed the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient responsible for preventing pregnancy was not at the required level in this version, potentially rendering it ineffective. Mr. Ndego's comments were made during the Regional launch of the Goodlife Health Fa ir in Bolgatanga, a three-day event organized by the Regional Health Directorate in collaboration with the Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre (NORSAAC). The fair, part of the USAID Accelerating Social and Behavior Change (ASBC) activity, aimed to promote health and wellness by encouraging behavior change and improving access to healthcare services. The theme for the fair was "Promoting good health through uptake of positive health behaviour." In his address, Mr. Ndego urged the public to purchase pharmaceutical products only from accredited and licensed pharmacies and over-the-counter outlets to ensure they are buying registered products stored under appropriate conditions. He warned that improper storage could significantly impact a medicine's efficacy, citing examples of medicines requiring refrigeration that are often improperly stored on kitchen shelves. At the fair, the FDA officials also highlighted the dangers of unregulated pharmaceutical products by showcasing examples, including products w ith inappropriate packaging. Mr. Ndego pointed out one such product with images of a male sexual organ, emphasizing that such packaging would not be approved by the FDA and cautioning against their use due to potential health risks.