Fake Postinor-2 alert: PPB warns women over suspect batch

Kenyans have been warned against using a specific batch of Postinor-2, after the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) identified tablets it says are falsified and being passed off as the genuine emergency contraceptive.

The alert concerns levonorgestrel 0.75mg tablets bearing batch number T34197R. The regulator says the product was detected through its post-market surveillance programme and should not be used.

The warning is particularly important because emergency contraception is time-sensitive. A falsified tablet may not contain the expected amount of the active ingredient, meaning a person who believes they have taken effective emergency contraception may not actually have received the intended protection.

The PPB said the suspect product could contain the wrong amount of levonorgestrel, no active ingredient, contaminants or substances that have not been declared.

“This batch of falsified Postinor-2 may contain incorrect amounts of the active ingredient, harmful contaminants, or undeclared substances,” the Board warned.

How to spot the suspect Postinor-2

The regulator said its assessment found several differences between batch T34197R and genuine Postinor-2.

These include:

Differences in how the batch number is printed.
Printing and typographical errors on the patient information leaflet.
Differences in the way the carton is sealed.
A noticeably stronger orange colour on the brand name and other parts of the packaging.
Differences in the lettering of the logo visible after the authentication panel is scratched.

The PPB said the differences indicate that the batch was not manufactured or released as a genuine product.

This does not mean that every pack of Postinor-2 available in Kenya is fake. The warning is specifically about the identified batch.

Why the warning matters

Postinor-2 contains levonorgestrel, an emergency contraceptive used to reduce the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure.

Because emergency contraception is intended for use within a limited window after intercourse, uncertainty about the contents of a tablet can have serious consequences.

The alert also highlights a wider problem facing Kenya's medicine supply chain: counterfeit and falsified health products can be made to look convincing enough to reach consumers before regulators detect them.

The PPB says market surveillance is part of its mandate to monitor the quality and safety of medicines circulating in the country. Its public reporting system allows patients and members of the public to report suspected poor-quality medicines, including products with unusual packaging, labelling, colour, appearance or apparent lack of effectiveness.

What to do if you have the suspect batch

Anyone who has Postinor-2 batch T34197R should avoid taking it and seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional or pharmacist.

The PPB also allows members of the public to report suspected falsified or poor-quality medicines through its pharmacovigilance system. Reports can include photographs and information on where the product was purchased, which can help the regulator trace products in the supply chain.

The Board's reporting system lists *271#, its online pharmacovigilance portal, the mPvERS mobile application and its official pharmacovigilance contacts among the available reporting channels.

The safest approach for consumers is to buy medicines only from licensed pharmacies and authorised outlets and to be cautious when packaging, labelling or the appearance of a medicine looks unusual.

The PPB is Kenya's national medicines regulator, responsible for overseeing the safety, quality and efficacy of health products in the country.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.