Bayer has recalled a batch of Yaz Plus contraceptive pills in South Africa over a packaging “mix-up” it says could compromise its efficacy.
“In close consultation with the SA Health Products Authority (SAHPRA), Bayer has initiated a Class II, Type A recall for the batch identified as WEW96J, with an expiry date of March 2026,” said medical director for Bayer's pharmaceuticals division, Dr Naren Jairam, last week.
This measure was taken after a discovery of a packaging mix-up in a limited number of packs which could potentially compromise the product's contraceptive efficacy, Naren added.
Bayer urged patients who had pills from batch to stop using them immediately, that some of the packs contained 24 hormone-free pills, instead of the 24 actual hormone tablets used for contraception.
Bayer said all healthcare professionals, wholesalers, hospitals, retail pharmacy outlets, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, authorised prescribers, dispensers, and individual customers or patients who have pills from the affected batch could return them in exchange for credit.
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