The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a stern warning to open-drug marketers, cautioning them against the sale of substandard and falsified medicines.
Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s Director-General, delivered this warning during a forum hosted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. She highlighted concerns over the role of open-drug markets in Kano, Aba, Onitsha, and Lagos in facilitating the distribution of substandard drugs.
Professor Adeyeye recounted past regulatory challenges, noting that the removal of patent medicine dealer oversight from the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) contributed to an influx of counterfeit drugs into the country.
“Patent medicine dealers and open-drug marketers resisted regulation for nearly a decade, taking the PCN to court to continue their illegal activities,” she said.
A pivotal ruling on February 16, however, upheld PCN’s regulatory authority, empowering NAFDAC and PCN to intensify their efforts to combat substandard medicines and protect public health.
Strengthened Regulatory Measures
NAFDAC has implemented a comprehensive strategy to curtail the proliferation of substandard drugs:
- Relocation of open-drug markets: Marketers have been relocated to a coordinated centre in Kanawa, Kano, where stricter oversight is enforced.
- Multi-strategic control mechanisms: The agency employs 12 layers of control to detect and prevent the circulation of falsified medicines.
- Pre-import checks: Through “Clean Report Inspection Analysis,” NAFDAC inspects drugs from countries like India and China before approval.
- Port inspections: Drugs are rigorously checked at ports of entry, with samples sent to laboratories for quality testing.
Professor Adeyeye revealed that 180 substandard products were intercepted and barred from entering the country at various ports, underscoring the agency’s commitment to safeguarding public health.
Warning to Importers
The NAFDAC boss also addressed the dangers posed by the importation of hazardous chemicals, cautioning importers to desist. She emphasized that the agency is working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser to prevent such activities and ensure public safety.
NAFDAC’s intensified measures and collaboration with other regulatory bodies reflect its unwavering resolve to protect Nigerians from the dangers of substandard drugs and chemicals.
