NAFDAC Cracks Down on Substandard Medicines: A Warning to Dealers

Protecting Nigerians from Fake Medicines: NAFDAC's Efforts

NAFDAC's ultimate goal is to safeguard the health and well-being of Nigerians by ensuring access...

Join the fight against substandard drugs! Discover the collective responsibility of stakeholders in ensuring safe and effective medical products.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a stern warning to patent medicine dealers and manufacturers regarding the purchase and sale of substandard drugs. This move aims to combat the proliferation of falsified and substandard medical products in Nigeria.

Key Takeaways from NAFDAC's Warning:

Stringent Measures: NAFDAC emphasizes the need for rigorous measures to prevent the sale of substandard medicines.

Prioritize Community Welfare: Dealers are urged to prioritize community well-being over financial gains.

Source Quality Products: NAFDAC advises dealers to source products from reputable suppliers and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

Regular Market Surveillance: The agency conducts regular market surveillance to detect and prevent the sale of substandard products.

NAFDAC's ultimate goal is to safeguard the health and well-being of Nigerians by ensuring access to top-notch medical products. This is achieved through rigorous regulation and control of the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water. By doing so, NAFDAC aims to eliminate counterfeit pharmaceuticals, foods, and beverages, thereby protecting citizens from harmful or ineffective products.

Key Objectives:

Regulate and Control: Monitor the production, distribution, and sale of regulated products to prevent counterfeit or substandard items from entering the market.

Conduct Tests and Inspections: Ensure compliance with standard specifications and guidelines for regulated products.

Register Products: Maintain a registry of approved food, drugs, medical devices, and other regulated products.

Educate and Enlighten: Inform the public about the importance of safe and quality products through awareness campaigns and publications.

By fulfilling these objectives, NAFDAC strives to create a safe and healthy environment for Nigerians, while also promoting public awareness and education on the importance of quality medical products.

NAFDAC's Director-General, Moji Adeyeye, has sounded the alarm on substandard and falsified medical products in Nigeria. Through her representative, Fraden Bitrus, Director of Post-Marketing Surveillance, Adeyeye urged members of the Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) to take stringent measures against these harmful products.

Adeyeye's warning came during a one-day sensitization campaign in Abuja on Monday, September 30. This move aims to curb the proliferation of substandard drugs, which pose significant health risks to Nigerians.

As a renowned pharmacist and professor, Adeyeye has been at the helm of NAFDAC since 2017, spearheading efforts to ensure the safety and efficacy of food, drugs, and other regulated products in Nigeria. Her leadership has been instrumental in combating counterfeit pharmaceuticals and promoting public health.

Highlights 

NAFDAC's Warning: Urgent need for stringent measures against substandard and falsified medical products.

Sensitization Campaign: One-day event in Abuja, targeting NAPPMED members.

Leadership: Moji Adeyeye's efforts as NAFDAC's Director-General to ensure public health and safety.

"Today, we discuss a crucial issue, sourcing quality products for our communities," Bitrus stated.

Fraden Bitrus, NAFDAC's Director of Post-Marketing Surveillance, emphasized the critical need for healthcare professionals to prioritize community well-being over financial interests.

He stressed that members of the Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) play a vital role in safeguarding public health. Bitrus urged participants to recognize their responsibility as healthcare professionals and take proactive measures to:

Sourcing from reputable suppliers: Ensuring that medical products come from trustworthy sources reduces the risk of counterfeit or substandard goods entering the market.

Verifying product authenticity: Conducting thorough checks on medical products before distribution or sale helps identify and eliminate falsified products.

Reporting suspicious products: Informing NAFDAC about suspicious or counterfeit products enables swift action to protect public health.

Their commitment will significantly enhance NAFDAC's efforts to combat counterfeit and substandard medical products, promoting public health and safety in Nigeria.

She said, "your services directly impact community welfare.

"It is essential to prioritize their well- being."

Moji Adeyeye emphasized essential strategies for evading counterfeit products, including procuring from trustworthy suppliers and verifying compliance with regulatory requirements.

Emphasizing the collective responsibility of stakeholders is crucial in combating substandard drugs. Essentially, this means recognizing that everyone involved - from healthcare professionals and policymakers to law enforcement agencies and the general public - has a vital role to play in ensuring the safety and efficacy of medical products.

Key Stakeholders and Their Roles:

Healthcare Professionals: Verify the authenticity of medical products, report suspicious cases, and educate patients on the risks of substandard drugs.

Law Enforcement Agencies: Collaborate with international organizations to disrupt criminal networks involved in counterfeiting.

Policymakers: Develop and implement effective legislation to regulate the pharmaceutical industry.

The Public: Be aware of the risks associated with purchasing medications from unauthorized sources.