Abuja, Nigeria – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised a critical alarm about the illegal circulation and marketing of the substandard and falsified Knowit Insulin Syringe 40 IU 29G x 1/2 in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday, NAFDAC highlighted concerns raised by the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) regarding the continued use of the outdated 40 IU/ML insulin syringes, despite the availability of the standardised 100 IU/ML syringes. The agency stressed that the 40 IU/ML insulin syringe is no longer registered and poses a serious risk of dosing errors, which could have life-threatening consequences for diabetic patients.
The statement emphasized: “The 40 IU/ML insulin syringe was previously approved for use with Lente animal insulins, which were available in both strengths. However, with the discontinuation of animal insulins and the adoption of human insulins, now standardised at 100 IU/ML, the 40 IU/ML insulin syringe is no longer applicable and is no longer registered by NAFDAC.”
NAFDAC further warned that using the 40 IU/ML syringe to administer the now-standard 100 IU/ML insulin could lead to significant dosing errors. The mismatch between the syringe and insulin concentration exposes diabetic patients to serious health risks, as most patients cannot reliably adjust for this discrepancy in their dosing calculations.
In response to the issue, NAFDAC has directed all zonal directors and state coordinators to initiate surveillance and remove substandard and falsified insulin syringes from circulation. The agency has also called on importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and caregivers to remain vigilant and prevent the importation, distribution, and sale of the dangerous product.
