The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has ordered a recall of two batches of Efinox nasal drops, which were manufactured locally.
The affected batches are Efinox 1% w/v Batch No. 82979 and Efinox 0.5% w/v Batch No. 82978, PPB chief executive officer F.M Siyoi announced.
“The recall is being issued due to labelling mix-ups where the correct product was identified, but the wrong strength was applied,” Siyoi said.
He added that an investigation by the manufacturer revealed that there was likely a mix-up between 0.5% w/v and 1% w/v strengths of the Efinox Nasal Drops during the labeling and packing process of the batches.
“In light of this, the board advises all pharmaceutical outlets, healthcare facilities, healthcare professionals, and members of the public to immediately stop the further distribution, sale, issuance, or use of the affected product batches. The products should be returned to the nearest healthcare facility or respective suppliers,” he said.
He encouraged the public to report any suspected cases of substandard medicines or adverse drug reactions to the nearest healthcare facility or the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.
This medication is used for temporary relief of congestion in the nose caused by various conditions, including the common cold, sinusitis, hay fever, and allergies. It works by narrowing the blood vessels in the nose area, reducing swelling and congestion.
Last week, the board intensified surveillance and enforcement efforts to curb the illegal distribution, wholesale and transportation of pharmaceuticals in a bid to protect public health.
As part of the operation, the PPB issued a strong warning to unlicensed courier services, motorbike operators, and public transport providers, urging them to avoid transporting pharmaceuticals without authorisation due to the risks of compromising medication quality.
The action followed a recent nationwide audit of health facilities aimed at identifying and addressing malpractices within the pharmaceutical sector.
The board urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected illegal activities within the sector.
