The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched the Narcotic Drugs Serialisation Pilot Project, aiming to bolster the quality and security of medical products within Nigeria’s drug distribution network.
In an official statement on Thursday, NAFDAC outlined the project’s objectives, emphasizing its role in countering the proliferation of substandard and falsified medicines by implementing a traceability system. This initiative seeks to address challenges posed by unscrupulous elements operating within the pharmaceutical supply chain.
The traceability project introduces a groundbreaking technology enabling the tracking and tracing of medicines throughout the entire production and distribution process, fostering transparency and ensuring authenticity. NAFDAC disclosed that an alarming 15% of drugs in the country are counterfeit.
Through the utilization of Android phone scanning devices, consumers now have the means to verify the quality and authenticity of drug products. This development is expected to instill confidence in consumers regarding the medicines they consume, significantly contributing to public health and safety.
The launch of this initiative represents a pivotal step in a broader effort initiated in May 2018, leading to the development of a traceability strategy document unveiled in October 2020. The focus on narcotic medicines in this pilot project strategically addresses the high potential for abuse and diversion, setting the stage for the full-scale implementation of traceability projects for other drug classes in the subsequent phases.
