WHO declares chloroquine made by 9 companies counterfeit

Fake medicines have been found in African countries like Congo, Cameroon and Nigeria

ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the chloroquine phosphate manufactured by nine companies counterfeit and cautioned the users against their consumption.

Chloroquine phosphate is considered to be effective in the treatment of coronavirus.

After the increase in the demand for chloroquine phosphate, a few companies in the world had started manufacturing counterfeit drugs under this name.

The WHO declared chloroquine phosphate manufactured by nine companies counterfeit and cautioned the people against their use while issuing a safety alert.

According to the world health body, fake products by the name of chloroquine phosphate, chloroquine, semoquine and neuroquine were being sold.



The companies that manufacture these counterfeit drugs include Jong pharmaceutical, Austril pharmaceutical, Dawa Limited, Brown and Burk and others.

The WHO observed that the products of these companies were found in African countries like Congo, Cameroon and Nigeria and urged other countries to remain cautious of the supply chain of these organisations.

The Drap has also issued a safety alert and asked the people to refrain from using the medicines of the said pharmaceutical companies.

The drug regulatory body said if anybody suffered a reaction from the use of these medicines, the person should immediately consult a medical practitioner and inform the Pharmacovigilance Centre Pakistan.

The Drap has also asked the health professionals to be more vigilant about these counterfeit medicines and apprise the Pharmacovigilance Centre of their presence anywhere in the market.