We have identified you may not be viewing TRAVAX optimally because the browser you are using is unsupported - click here.

placeholder="Enter search term...">
Suitcase

Counterfeit malaria treatment medication in Africa

07 January 2022

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a medical alert about falsified COMBIART medication being supplied in Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, and Mali. The genuine manufacturer of COMBIART has confirmed that the product is counterfeit.

  • More information about the falsified product including batch number and expiry date are detailed in the WHO medical product alert.

Genuine COMBIART (combination of artemether and lumefantrine) is used for the treatment of acute, uncomplicated malaria infections due to Plasmodium falciparum, and is effective in regions where chloroquine resistance has been reported.

Advice for Travellers

Substandard and falsified (counterfeit) medical products are a growing problem that occurs throughout the world. A wide range of counterfeit medicines are available, including antimalarials, antibiotics, blood pressure medicine and vaccines.

  • It is particularly important that travellers are aware that life saving medicines used for the prevention and treatment of malaria are often subject to counterfeiting in countries where malaria is a serious risk.

If during travel a traveller requires medication for a new illness or condition they should be advised:

  • to only purchase medicines from a reputable pharmacy or medical facility and obtain a receipt
  • to inspect packaging closely for signs of poor-quality printing, spelling or labelling, which may suggest counterfeiting
  • not to obtain medicines from people or suppliers which are not linked to a reputable pharmacy or medical facility

Travellers who take regular or intermittent medication should be encouraged to obtain these in the UK prior to travel, especially if there is any cause for concern about the legitimacy of medications or medical products at their destination.

  • Whenever possible travellers should take sufficient supplies of chronic and preventative medicines with them to cover the duration of the trip, including extra to cover potential delays, lost, stolen or damaged supplies.

In the event that further medicines need to be obtained abroad (for example, if a trip is extended, medicines are lost or stolen or the planned itinerary is changed) then travellers, in addition to the measures above, should also be advised:

  • to carry a copy of their prescription which should include both the generic and brand names of any medicines they are taking, including for prescribed antimalarial medicines
  • to ask the pharmacist about the active ingredient in the medicine and check that it is the same as their own medicine

See the TRAVAX Counterfeit Medicines and Travelling with Medicines pages for further information