The House of Representatives Committee on Health has summoned the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, to explain the steps his ministry has put in place to check the menace of fake and substandard drugs in the country.
The Chairman of the Committee, Tanko Sununu, made the order at the public hearing on the Bill for an Act to repeal the counterfeit and fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods (miscellaneous provisions) act cap c34, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004 and to make provisions for the prohibition and control of counterfeit medical products, fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods and for related matters.
The Bill was sponsored by Sununu and Samuel Babatunde Adejare. The Committee chairman explained that the public hearing was “publicised in two national dailies and these are Bills that are aimed at improving the healthcare of this country and if the ministry in charge of the responsibility of safe guiding the health of Nigerians is not serious with the legislation that will guide their policy, I think it is uncalled for. I am just made to be aware that the ministry made a presentation this morning of three Bills and I mentioned it in my speech that take insecurity and corruption, the next thing that disturbs Nigerians and is consuming our economy and creating havoc is counterfeit, unwholesome food products and fake drugs.
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“And to say as at this morning the ministry cannot come with any position on these issues, I think it is not acceptable. It is not acceptable. The committee will not take it lightly. We will look at the role of the Ministry as far as the control of fake drugs and unwholesome food products is concerned. We must ensure that we protect the health of Nigerians. The economy has gone down. The percentage of our out-of-pocket spending according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) is 70 to 75 per cent and if you cannot provide drug for somebody and you still allow him to go and buy fake drugs or poison, it is not fair.
“We are trying to find solution to the many challenges in the health sector and the ministry that is in charge of that responsibility did not see the urgency in it to make its position known to the public. I made several calls this morning to confirm if the ministry is represented, I think the ministry know that they are accountable to Nigerians the better.”