This archive report was first published on 28 August 2019.
On August 28, 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a warning to Kenyans over the circulation of fake Augmentin tablets in the country.
Augmentin, a common antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, has been found to be counterfeit in Kenya and Uganda. The WHO has warned that anyone who has taken the drug, batch number 786627 manufactured by SmithKline Beecham Limited, should not use it.
"If you have taken this falsified medical product, or if you suffer an adverse event or an unexpected lack of efficacy, please seek immediate advice from a qualified healthcare professional, and ensure they report the incident to your Ministry of Health," said the WHO warning.
The WHO discovered the fake drugs through routine post-marketing surveillance, which tested the quality of medical products in the market. The organisation informed the Kenya Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) and the Uganda National Drug Authority about its findings.
SmithKline Beecham has denied manufacturing the falsified version of the drug. However, the PPB has contradicted the WHO warning, stating that there have been no fake versions of the drug in the Kenyan market since November 2018.
Antibiotics play a crucial role in the health sector, but the rise of antibiotic resistance is a growing concern. In Kenya, drug-resistant infections already account for an estimated 700,000 deaths every year, and are expected to kill 10 million people annually by 2050 if no action is taken.
