By our reporter
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a serious public health warning regarding the circulation of falsified and unregistered oxytocin injection products in Nigeria. These products, many of which are believed to have originated from manufacturers in China, pose significant risks to maternal health and safety.
Oxytocin is a critical drug used during childbirth to induce labor and prevent excessive bleeding after delivery. Its effectiveness, however, depends on strict adherence to storage requirements, specifically refrigeration at temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius. NAFDAC has discovered that several oxytocin products in the Nigerian market carry misleading or incorrect storage instructions, forged registration numbers, or lack any form of proper registration with the agency.
According to NAFDAC, these counterfeit products are being distributed under various brand names and are often accompanied by false claims of origin or authorization. Some of the brands identified include A-Tocin Injection, DERM Oxytocin, PITONS Oxytocin, SANO Oxytocin, ZYTOCIN, CLAXITODIN Injection, and Gold Vision Oxytocin Injection. Many of these were allegedly manufactured in provinces across China, while being distributed by Nigerian companies operating outside of regulatory compliance.
The agency found that several of these products listed incorrect storage instructions such as “store below 25 degrees Celsius,” which compromises the drug’s stability and renders it potentially ineffective. In some cases, the same fake NAFDAC registration number was used across multiple different products, indicating a deliberate attempt to deceive healthcare providers and the public.
NAFDAC emphasized that the use of degraded or ineffective oxytocin can lead to severe medical complications. These include failure to initiate labor, uncontrolled postpartum hemorrhage, emergency surgical interventions, blood transfusions, and in the worst cases, maternal death. The threat is particularly severe in rural or under-resourced health settings, where the margin for error is minimal.
In response, NAFDAC has directed its state offices to intensify surveillance and recall operations across the country. Healthcare providers, pharmacists, and medicine dealers have been instructed to verify the authenticity of any oxytocin products in their possession and immediately discontinue use of any suspicious items.
The agency also advised that medical professionals and members of the public only obtain medications from licensed pharmaceutical suppliers. Any oxytocin product that lacks proper labeling, has questionable storage instructions, or seems unusual in appearance should be reported and submitted to the nearest NAFDAC office.
NAFDAC further encourages the public to report any adverse drug reactions or suspected counterfeit products through its established channels. These include the official website, toll-free telephone lines, dedicated email addresses, and the MedSafety mobile app.
This development highlights the urgent need for stricter pharmaceutical regulation, greater vigilance by healthcare workers, and public awareness regarding counterfeit medicines. NAFDAC’s swift action and continued monitoring efforts aim to safeguard public health, especially in critical areas such as maternal care. The agency has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that only safe, effective, and properly regulated drugs are made available to Nigerians.
