Accra, June 19, GNA - The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) has warned the public about the sale of counterfeit Artesunate tablets on the market. A statement issued by Dr Stephen Opuni, Chief Executive of the FDB at the weekend said laboratory analyses conducted on the product revealed that it contained no active ingredient (Artesunate) therefore compromising its quality, safety and efficacy.

"The counterfeit Artesunate Tablet with batch number 080504, had the manufacturers address as Guilin Pharmaceutical Co limited, No. 17 Shanghai Road, Guilin Guangxi, China, "The consumption of the product will therefore not provide any treatment of malaria, which can possibly result in serious complications an= d even death," the statement said.

The statement said the FDB in its quest to safeguard the health of the consuming public, conducts periodic market surveillance on selected samples of medicinal products on the Ghanaian market for quality monitoring.

"The general public is therefore advised not to patronise the said Artesunate tablets and to report anyone found offering them for sale to the nearest FDB office or the Police. "This practice of selling counterfeit medicines is in contravention of section 12 of the Food and Drugs Law, PNDC Law 305B and its subsequent amendment Act 523, 1996, which states that: Where a standard has been prescribed for any drug=85 any person who labels, packages, sells or advertises any substance in such a manner that it is likely to be mistaken for that drug=85 Commits an offence=85

"Furthermore, any Wholesaler, Retailer, Pharmacy or Licensed Chemic= al Shop that has in stock these medicines should immediately stop dispensing them and inform the Food and Drugs Board." The FDB assured the public of its readiness to ensure public health an= d safety at all times and therefore asked people to give any information on persons suspected to be in any practice possible of endangering public health and safety through any of the following contacts; 0244337235, 0208204968 or 0244385086.