Falsified medicines enter supply chain in Kenya

Médecins Sans Frontières is taking all measures to ensure adequate treatment and medical follow up for patients

Nairobi, the 30th of September. On 5th and 7th September, Médecins Sans Frontières missions in Kenya detected quality problems with one antiretroviral medicine (ARV) named Zidolam-N used to treat people with HIV. Médecins Sans Frontières nurses reported irregularities on the appearance of the product such as friability and discoloration of the tablets.

Last week, these ARVs were confirmed to be falsified versions of World Health Organization (WHO) quality-assured (‘prequalified’) drugs that were purchased via a distributor certified by the Kenya Pharmacy and Poisons Board. These antiretrovirals contain lamivudine (150mg), zidovudine (300mg), and nevirapine (200mg).

“Médecins Sans Frontières takes this supply lapse seriously and is focused on ensuring that patients are informed and receive appropriate medical follow-up,” says Dr. Alexandra Vandenbulcke, Médecins Sans Frontières medical coordinator in Kenya.

As soon as the quality alerts were reported by the Médecins Sans Frontières nurses, Médecins Sans Frontières informed the Kenyan Ministry of Health, WHO and other international partners involved in procurement of medicines. Médecins Sans Frontières put the drugs under quarantine and the falsified batches were sent back to the supplier.

Médecins Sans Frontières has started to trace and notify patients who have received the falsified products, and has secured adequate replacement drugs for affected patients. Médecins Sans Frontières will offer adapted medical follow-up to these patients and optimise treatment options when necessary.

Médecins Sans Frontières places great importance on the quality of the drugs used in its projects, using WHO-prequalified ARVs. Médecins Sans Frontières is demanding a full investigation into the circumstances of this supply lapse to ensure the best quality of medicines for patients.