How to Spot Fake Medicines in Nigeria: The NAFDAC MAS Guide

Counterfeit and substandard medicines are a real and documented problem in Nigeria — and the good news is that checking whether a medicine is genuine takes less than a minute and costs nothing. Here's exactly how to do it, and what to do if a medicine fails the check.

The Fastest Check: NAFDAC's Mobile Authentication Service (MAS)

NAFDAC introduced the Mobile Authentication Service in 2012 for anti-malarial and antibiotic medicines, and it has since been extended to a wider range of products. It works on any mobile phone (no smartphone or data needed) and takes under a minute.

How to use it:

1. Look for a scratch panel on the medicine's packaging — usually a silver strip on the box or a label.

2. Scratch it to reveal a one-time PIN.

3. Send the PIN by SMS to the short code printed on the pack. 38353 is the most common; other approved MAS providers use different numbers, so use the one on your pack.

4. You'll get an instant reply: either "Confirmed" (the product is genuine) or "Unregistered product" (the code could not be verified — treat this as a red flag).

If your medicine doesn't have a scratch panel at all, that's not automatically a fake — MAS coverage varies by product category — but it's worth asking your pharmacist whether that specific product should have one.

Beyond MAS: Other Ways to Check

• NAFDAC registration number. Genuine medicines sold in Nigeria carry a NAFDAC registration number on the packaging (the format varies, e.g. "NAFDAC Reg. No: A4-XXXX" or similar). You can cross-check a product's registration status through NAFDAC's official product verification channels.

• Packaging quality. Blurred printing, misspellings, inconsistent fonts, or packaging that looks different from a previous purchase of the same product are all warning signs.

• Where you buy it. Buying from a licensed, physical pharmacy with a visible superintendent pharmacist and premises licence dramatically reduces your risk compared to unlicensed roadside sellers or unverified online sellers. This is the single biggest factor in your control.

• Price that's "too good." A price significantly below what other licensed pharmacies charge for the same product is a warning sign worth asking about directly.

What to Do If a Medicine Fails the Check

1. Don't take it. Stop use immediately if a scratch code comes back "unregistered" or you have any other reason to suspect a product.

2. Keep the packaging and any receipt. You'll need these if you report it or want a refund or exchange.

3. Report it to NAFDAC. NAFDAC accepts reports of suspected counterfeit or substandard medicines through its official reporting channels — this contributes to enforcement action and protects other patients.

4. Tell the pharmacy where you bought it. A licensed pharmacy will want to know immediately if a batch has a problem, both to protect other customers and because they may need to escalate to their own supplier.

Why This Matters More With Some Medicines Than Others

Counterfeiting risk isn't evenly spread. Antimalarials, antibiotics, and medicines for chronic conditions (like hypertension and diabetes treatments) are among the most frequently targeted categories in Nigeria, precisely because they're high-volume and patients often can't tell a substandard dose from a full-strength one just by looking. This is exactly why buying from a pharmacy that checks its own supply chain — not just relying on the patient to run an MAS check every time — matters. A licensed pharmacy sourcing from verified, NAFDAC-registered wholesalers is your first line of defence; MAS is your second, patient-side check.

The Bottom Line

Checking a medicine takes under a minute and costs nothing. Make it a habit for any new pack you buy, especially antimalarials and antibiotics — it's the single easiest thing you can do to protect yourself from counterfeit medicine in Nigeria.

Reviewed by Alex Obi, Superintendent Pharmacist, Primus Pharmacy.

Source: NAFDAC Mobile Authentication Service — nafdac.gov.ng.