How To Verify Genuine Medicine In Nigeria Using Mobile Authentication Service

At some points in our lives, we fall sick either as a result of reactions of organisms in the body system or due to infections resulting from environmental factors, and medicine most times is the only therapy that helps the sick patient regains his or her health.

 

Nigerian Pharmacist and Fake Drugs

Sometime in the past, most pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria were deeply into production of fake, substandard and adulterated drugs. This development led to unavoidable intake of counterfeit drugs.

This constant intake of fake, adulterated and sub-standard drugs no doubt has resulted in severe health complications like heart failures, kidney problems, high blood pressures, cancer of various kinds, disabilities and others.

 

Introduction of NAFDAC

Prior to establishment of National Association of Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Nigeria, fake and adulterated drugs was rampant almost in all nooks and crannies of the country. Nigerians faced severe health challenges which were hardly treated.

However, the country started having a sign of relief when the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria led by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo established the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Controlto checkmate fraudulent activities of drug manufacturers in Nigeria.

  

Introduction of Mobile Authentication Number

To live up to expectation, NAFDAC employed several approaches believed to be effective in eradicating counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.

The most effective of all the methods employed to checkmate this corrupt practices among pharmaceutical companies was the introduction of Mobile Authentication Service (MAS).

This entails using mobile phones to confirm the authenticity of the drugs before consuming it.  NAFDAC in partnership with GSM operators and pharmaceutical companies introduced this solution to detect fake and adulteration drugs.

This service is enabled to work on mobile phones free of charge; that is to say that it doesn’t incur a cost. One can make use of the service without airtime in his phone.

However, this service can only work on drugs that are MAS- enabled. Examples of drugs with Mobile Authentication Service enabled are Ampiclox, Artesunate, Ampicillin and many others.

 

How to check the authenticity of drugs using GSM  

NAFDAC Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) can be accessed by scratching the silver panel on the outer part of the drug; after which you send the 10-digit number that appeared on the scratched silver panel to 38353.  

In a short while, you will receive an SMS that will clearly explain whether or not the drug you are about buying is genuine.

 

 

With this service in place, selling of fake and adulterated drugs has drastically reduced. Pharmacists manufacturing counterfeit drugs in Nigeria to a large extent have been discouraged by this development which has made it a lot easier for the consumers to check the authenticity of the drugs they are to consume.  

Death rates and other counterfeit drug effects have drastically reduced in Nigeria since the introduction of Mobile Authentication Service. 

Adhering to the instructions above on how to discover original drugs using mobile phones have greatly assisted Nigerians to avert the risk of purchasing fake, substandard and adulterated drugs thereby ameliorating death rates in the country.

Buyers should ensure they use their mobile phone to confirm the authenticity of the drugs they want to buy before making payment.