That e-pill could be fake, warns chemist

The emergency contraceptive pill has become an instant hit with young women, with 95 per cent said to be using it, according to new findings.

However, it has emerged that some of the e-pills on sale are counterfeits.

The chief pharmacist at the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Dr Kosgey Kipkerich, on Thursday said some of the drugs on sale had been found to be “questionable”.

The original pack of Postinor-2 was found to have a bolder font on the batch number and a darker shade of pink. It also had a sheet inside indicating how the pill is to be used.

The fake pack had a lighter shade of pink and the batch number was printed in a faint font. It also lacked the sheet with directions of use.

“Finding even one counterfeit pack is a cause of worry,” said Dr Kipkerich.

Women, he urged, should go for free family planning pills from government clinics, saying that some of the pills sold over the counter may not be valid.

He pointed out the Chinese herbal family planning pill as another cause of worry.

The chief pharmacist cautioned against the careless use of emergency contraception pills. “These pills cannot prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STI) or HIV/AIDS,” he emphasised.

Protected sex

He noted that the use of the e-pill indicated that people were no longer having protected sex.

Mr James Mwangi, a pharmacy owner, said that his stock on the emergency pills usually gets exhausted on Sundays and Mondays.

“I have to stock up on the drug as many people, especially young girls, buy them frequently,” Mr Mwangi added.