NAFDAC restates commitment to combat counterfeit drugs

The Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management (NAFDAC) has reiterated its dedication to tackling the menace of counterfeit and substandard pharmaceutical merchandise in Nigeria.

The Director Normal of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, made this identified on the eighth annual convention of the Affiliation of Nigeria Well being Journalists (ANHEJ) in Abuja on Saturday.

Represented by the Director, Submit Advertising and marketing Surveillance, Bitrus Fraden, Ms Adeyeye stated the company has intensified partnership with international locations comparable to China and India to make sure rigorous testing of merchandise destined for Nigeria.

She stated the technique contains appointing impartial analysts in these international locations to confirm product security earlier than cargo.

She additionally highlighted different proactive measures, together with pre-shipment testing, post-marketing surveillance, and client engagement, as a part of its complete method to safeguarding public well being.

“We aren’t a dumping floor for substandard merchandise,” she stated.

“Pre-shipment testing ensures that solely high quality merchandise are despatched to Nigeria. This method reduces waste and prevents counterfeit objects from coming into our markets.”

She additionally disclosed that 144 batches of substandard pharmaceutical merchandise have been just lately intercepted and prevented from coming into the nation.

She stated these efforts, mixed with routine post-marketing inspections and client complaints, have helped to scale back the prevalence of dangerous merchandise in circulation.

Partnership, collaboration

Ms Adeyeye harassed the significance of collaboration in attaining NAFDAC’s targets, together with partnerships with worldwide organisations comparable to WHO, USAID and the Invoice & Melinda Gates Basis.

She stated regionally, NAFDAC is working intently with the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nationwide Drug Regulation Enforcement Company (NDLEA), and the police to implement laws and monitor pharmaceutical product distribution.

“We have to work as one to guard lives. Unsafe merchandise hurt not solely customers but in addition professional companies. Collaborative efforts are important to stopping the proliferation of substandard items,” she stated.In his comment, President of ANHEJ, Joseph Kadiri, stated with these ongoing efforts, NAFDAC stays steadfast in its mission to eradicate counterfeit medicine and safeguard public well being.

Mr Kadiri stated by leveraging know-how, fostering collaboration, and interesting with the general public, the company goals to construct a safer and more healthy Nigeria.

In regards to the convention

Mr Kadiri stated the affiliation holds conferences yearly to look at vital well being programmes and insurance policies aimed toward bettering well being outcomes for Nigerians.

He stated this yr’s convention, themed “SWAp Effectiveness in Addressing Poor Well being Outcomes: The Function of the Media,” is especially well timed given the quite a few challenges going through Nigeria’s well being sector, together with insufficient funding, inefficient useful resource allocation, and poor service supply.

ALSO READ: How Nigerians can help the combat towards pretend medicine, meals – NAFDAC

He stated the Sector Vast Method (SWAp) was launched to deal with these challenges by selling a coordinated and harmonised method to well being sector growth.

“Nevertheless, the SWAp’s effectiveness depends closely on the lively engagement of assorted stakeholders, together with the media. As journalists, we play a significant function in selling well being consciousness, training, and advocacy,” he stated.

“By way of our reporting, we are able to maintain stakeholders accountable for his or her actions and insurance policies, present a platform for marginalised voices to be heard, promote evidence-based well being data and finest practices, and advocate for coverage modifications and elevated funding for well being programmes.”