Uganda issues alert over fake morning-after pills

Uganda's National Drug Authority is warning the public to be wary of counterfeit versions of a popular morning-after pill, after discovering fakes circulating on the national market.

The NDA has identified counterfeit versions of Hungarian firm Gedeon Richter's Postinor-2 (levonorgestrel), a progestin-only emergency contraceptive taken after unprotected sex in order to avoid pregnancy.

The agency has advised consumers purchasing the product to pay close attention to the overt safety features on the genuine product, namely a white rectangular panel on the back of the pack which when scratched reveals the word 'original' and the logo of the manufacturer (see image).

"The public is urged to note that the above two features are not displayed when you scratch the same white band of the counterfeit Postinor-2 packet," says an NDA advisory published here.

It also urges those who discover they have been given the fake version to report it to an NDA office.

This type of overt security feature is invaluable in countries where genuine medicines are costly and people generally pay out-of-pocket for drugs.