The Food and Drugs Authority has placed a ban on the sale and distribution of the antibiotic drug, Ciprobiotic 250 which is currently being dispensed by pharmacists and clinics across the country.

Head of Drug Enforcement Unit at the FDA, Thomas Amedzro says the product which was smuggled into the country by Kojach Pharma Limited, is an antibiotic that is used for treating Urine Tract Infections, Gonorrhoea, Typhoid Fever and Respiratory tract infections.

But it has not undergone the necessary evaluation and as a result the FDA cannot guarantee its quality, safety and efficacy, he said.

According to Thomas Amedzro, if the drug happens to contain less of the required ingredients, the possibility of the organisms that are susceptible to the drug to develop resistance is higher and that will make treatment of diseases almost impossible using the particular medicine subsequently. 

The FDA is therefore cautioning public health facilities and pharmacist to desist from stocking and dispensing Ciprobiotic 250.