Table 1.
Product characteristics of the essential children's medicines investigated.
| Product and code | Labeled strength |
Country of manufacture | Batch number |
Manufacturing date |
Expiry date | FDA/PML number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ciprofloxacin | ||||||
| CPF1 | 250 mg/5 ml | UK | 0710069 | 06/2015 | 05/2017 | Yes |
| CPF2 | 250 mg/5 ml | India | - | 06/2014 | 05/2017 | No |
|
| ||||||
| Cotrimoxazole | ||||||
| CTX1 | 125 mg/5 ml | UK | EXMT 002 | 09/2014 | 08/2017 | No |
| CTX2 | 125 mg/5 ml | India | XT 029 | 02/2015 | 01/2018 | Yes |
| CTX3 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 0302R | 02/2015 | 02/2018 | No |
| CTX4 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 15012 | 08/2015 | 08/2018 | Yes |
| CTX5 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 0250495 | 05/2015 | 04/2017 | Yes |
|
| ||||||
| Metronidazole | ||||||
| MTZ1 | 200 mgt/5 ml | South Africa | 46159A | 12/2014 | 11/2016 | Yes |
| MTZ2 | 200 mg/5 ml | Ghana | X-214 | 03/2015 | 03/2017 | Yes |
| MTZ3 | 200 mg/5 ml | UK | MTXT-002 | 10/2014 | 09/2017 | No |
| MTZ4 | 200 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 0403R | 03/2015 | 03/2017 | No |
| MTZ5 | 200 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 15002 | 04/2015 | 04/2018 | Yes |
| MTZ6 | 200 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 0260385 | 07/2015 | 06/2017 | Yes |
|
| ||||||
| Amoxicillin | ||||||
| AMX1 | 125 mg/5 ml | UK | 676164 | 11/2013 | 11/2018 | No |
| AMX2 | 125 mg/5 ml | UK | 13305001 | 08/2013 | 07/2016 | No |
| AMX3 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | AS159 | 06/2015 | 04/2018 | Yes |
| AMX4 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 0270435 | 05/2015 | 04/2017 | Yes |
| AMX5 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 15009 | 05/2015 | 05/2018 | Yes |
| AMX6 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 2305P | 05/2014 | 05/2016 | No |
|
| ||||||
| Flucloxacillin | ||||||
| FCX1 | 125 mg/5 ml | India | 150079 | 01/2015 | 12/2017 | No |
| FCX2 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 2307R | 07/2015 | 07/2017 | Yes |
| FCX3 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 0390315 | 09/2015 | 08/2017 | Yes |
| FCX4 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 15021 | 08/2015 | 08/2018 | No |
|
| ||||||
| Cefuroxime | ||||||
| CFX1 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 4808R | 08/2015 | 08/2017 | No |
| CFX2 | 125 mg/5 ml | India | BS-59001 | 07/2015 | 06/2017 | Yes |
| CFX3 | 125 mg/5 ml | UK | C703319 | 10/2014 | 10/2016 | No |
| CFX4 | 125 mg/5 ml | India | 83 | 08/2015 | 07/2017 | No |
| CFX5 | 125 mg/5 ml | UK | STR44A00 | 08/2014 | 08/2016 | Yes |
| CFX6 | 125 mg/5 m | India | CFL-073 | 10/2015 | 10/2017 | Yes |
|
| ||||||
| Artemether-lumefantrine | ||||||
| ATL1 | 20 mg/120 mg/5 ml | India | 0633 | 02/2014 | 02/2016 | Yes |
| ATL2 | 20 mg/120 mg/5 ml | Ghana | LG-414 | 02/2015 | 01/2017 | Yes |
| ATL3 | 20 mg/120 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 2804R | 03/2016 | 03/2018 | No |
| ATL4 | 20 mg/120 mg/5 ml | India | 3A09150 | 01/2015 | 12/2017 | Yes |
|
| ||||||
| Mebendazole | ||||||
| MBZ1 | 100 mg/5 ml | Belgium | DLB 3600 | 01/2014 | 12/2018 | No |
| MBZ2 | 100 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 15001 | 05/2015 | 05/2018 | No |
| MBZ3 | 100 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 0780165 | 07/2015 | 06/2017 | No |
| MBZ4 | 100 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 12 | 03/2015 | 03/2018 | Yes |
| MBZ5 | 100 mg/5 ml | Ghana | M2002 | 09/2014 | 08/2017 | No |
|
| ||||||
| Albendazole | ||||||
| ABZ1 | 100 mg/5 ml | India | 340960 | 08/2014 | 07/2017 | No |
| ABZ2 | 200 mg/5 ml | India | G4016 | 06/2014 | 05/2017 | Yes |
| ABZ3 | 100 mg/5 ml | India | W150828 | 08/2015 | 07/2018 | Yes |
| ABZ4 | 100 mg/5 ml | India | 14328 | 05/2014 | 04/2017 | Yes |
| ABZ5 | 100 mg/5 ml | India | 340953 | 08/2014 | 07/2017 | Yes |
| ABZ6 | 100 mg/5 ml | India | T140023 | 03/2014 | 02/2017 | No |
| ABZ7 | 100 mg/5 ml | India | L-564001 | 02/2014 | 01/2017 | Yes |
| ABZ8 | 200 mg/5 ml | India | 331134 | 11/2013 | 10/2016 | No |
|
| ||||||
| Griseofulvin | ||||||
| GFV1 | 125 mg/5 ml | India | GS 1401 | 01/2014 | 02/2016 | Yes |
| GFV2 | 125 mg/5 ml | India | 5E 01045 | 02/2015 | 01/2018 | Yes |
| GFV3 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 001 | 05/2015 | 05/2018 | No |
|
| ||||||
| Ferrous sulphate | ||||||
| FES1 | 10 mg/5 ml | Ghana | VL 785 | 10/2015 | 09/2017 | Yes |
| FES2 | 75 mg/5 ml | India | 2F140KE | 12/2014 | 11/2016 | No |
| FES3 | 200 mg/5 ml | India | T140011 | 07/2014 | 07/2016 | No |
|
| ||||||
| Multivitamin | ||||||
| MVM1 | 2 mg/5 ml (Vit B1, B2), 2 mcg/5 ml (Vit B3), 0.225 mg/5 ml (Vit B6) | Ghana | AY 231 | 06/2015 | 05/2017 | Yes |
| MVM2 | 2 mg/5 ml (Vit B1), 1.2 mg/5 ml (Vit B3), 0.2 mg/5 ml (Vit B6) | Ghana | 0290158 | 02/2016 | 02/2017 | Yes |
|
| ||||||
| Folic acid | ||||||
| FLA1 | 500 mcg/5 ml | Ghana | 0430025 | 09/2015 | 11/2016 | No |
| FLA2 | 500 mcg/5 ml | Ghana | FO-035 | 11/2014 | 10/2016 | Yes |
|
| ||||||
| Paracetamol | ||||||
| PCM1 | 125 mg/5 ml | UK | AS 17120 | 02/2015 | 02/2018 | No |
| PCM2 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | RNA2P018 | 08/2015 | 08/2018 | Yes |
| PCM3 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 3609R | 09/2015 | 09/2018 | No |
| PCM4 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 10L319 | 10/2013 | 09/2016 | Yes |
| PCM5 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | E 005 | 10/2015 | 09/2018 | No |
| PCM6 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 0361865 | 10/2015 | 09/2017 | Yes |
| PCM7 | 125 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 1008F | 08/2015 | 08/2018 | Yes |
|
| ||||||
| Ibuprofen | ||||||
| IBF1 | 100 mg/5 ml | UK | IBXT-002 | 09/2014 | 08/2017 | No |
| IBF2 | 100 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 1506P | 06/2014 | 06/2017 | No |
| IBF3 | 100 mg/5 ml | Ghana | E001 | 04/2015 | 04/2017 | No |
| IBF4 | 100 mg/5 ml | India | IB4 001 | 09/2014 | 08/2017 | No |
| IBF5 | 100 mg/5 ml | Ghana | 1030025 | 09/2014 | 08/2017 | Yes |
(a) CPF = ciprofloxacin suspension, CTX = cotrimoxazole suspension, MTZ = metronidazole suspension, AMX = amoxicillin suspension, FCX = flucloxacillin suspension, CFX = cefuroxime suspension, ATL = Artemether-lumefantrine suspension, MBZ = mebendazole suspension, ABZ = albendazole suspension, GFV = griseofulvin suspension, FES = ferrous sulphate syrup, MVM = multivitamin syrup, FLA = folic acid suspension, PCM = paracetamol syrup, and IBF = ibuprofen suspension; (b) FDA = Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana; PML =p manufacturing license; (c) the numbers indicated against a particular product are different brands of the same drug.