In 2010, NAFDAC deployed the Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) scheme as one of the anticounterfeiting strategies to detect substandard and falsified (SF) medical products. The scheme uses scratch codes and Short Messaging Service (SMS) to empower consumers to verify the authenticity of medicines at the point of purchase: (putting the power of detecting counterfeit in the hands of consumers) The consumer scratches a panel on the product which reveals a unique, one-time use PIN. The PIN is sent toll- free to a short code using any of the GSM operators and the consumer receives a response in form of a text message (SMS) stating that the product is either genuine or suspected fake.
Following the success of the pilot study, NAFDAC deployed the MAS Scheme in January 2012, across anti-malarial and antibiotic medicines imported or manufactured in Nigeria.
Currently the following five (5) MAS Providers offer MAS technology to Holders of Certificate of Registration (HCR). The Service Providers and their corresponding codes are as follows:
| LIST OF SERVICE PROVIDERS | ||
| Service Provider | Short Code | |
| 1 | PharmaSecure | 38351 |
| 2 | Sproxil | 38353 |
| 3 | Savanté | 38120 |
| 4 | UBQ-t/Kezzler | 20966 |
| 5 | M-Pedigree | 1393 |
See MAS Guidelines
