Kenya health regulator warns of counterfeit Postinor-2 pills

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) in Kenya has issued an urgent public health alert regarding a counterfeit batch of Postinor-2 emergency contraceptive pills circulating in the market. The falsified tablets, which contain 0.75 mg of levonorgestrel, are identified by batch number T34197R.

The counterfeit packaging falsely claims the product was manufactured by the European pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter Plc, which has confirmed it did not produce or release this batch. Regulatory inspections revealed several discrepancies between the fake and genuine products, including mismatched batch printing methods, typographical errors in the patient information leaflets, and different carton sealing techniques. While genuine packs use a hot melt closure, the falsified versions do not. Other indicators include incorrect color grading of the brand name and a different logo font under the authentication panel.

The PPB warned that the counterfeit pills may contain incorrect amounts of the active ingredient, no active ingredient at all, harmful contaminants, or undeclared substances. Two suspects have been arrested as authorities trace the supply chain. Clinics, pharmacies, and wholesalers have been directed to quarantine any stocks matching batch T34197R, and members of the public are advised to discontinue use of suspected units and seek medical guidance.