The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NAFDAC

  • NAFDAC’s drug distribution initiative

    In a move designed to sanitise and streamline the nation’s drug trade, the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) under the dynamic administration of Dr Paul Bortwev Orhii recently moved to restructure the drug distribution system. The initiative, a complement to the anti-counterfeiting and anti-faking strategy introduced by the current management of NAFDAC, will ensure the creation and establishment of large drug markets otherwise known as Mega Drug Distribution Centres (MDDCs) in the nation’s six geo-political zones.

    Under the arrangement, private sector partners will provide the structures, while the federal government, through NAFDAC, will ramp up its regulatory activities. The governments in 36 states are expected to establish and own drug markets to be known as State Drug Distribution Centres (SDDCs) under the coordination of NAFDAC. States will be permitted to upgrade their Central Medical Stores (CMSs) to meet SDDC standard to conserve resources.

    One other feature of the proposed scheme is the compulsory channelling of locally produced and imported pharmaceutical products to both the regional and states drug markets for re-examination by NAFDAC. Upon certification of products quality, the wholesalers will then be allowed to take delivery and subsequently commence sales to the retailers, comprising community pharmacies, public/primary health care centres, private health institutions as well as the patent and proprietary medicines vendors (PPMV) – the last link in the chain to get the products to the final consumers or general public. Dispensing will be based strictly on prescriptions from appropriate medical experts in line with global medical procedures.

    At a well attended launch of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines, Nigerian National Pharmacovigilance Policy and Implementation Framework as well as the inauguration of Drug Distribution Advocates of Nigeria by the Federal Ministry of Health at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Abuja recently, Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu and other stakeholders in the nation’s health sector were full of optimism that this new framework will ensure the sanitization and standardization of pharmaceutical products distribution and marketing. The consensus was that the new scheme will achieve the desired goals and objectives of cleaning the extant rot in the drug distribution sector which will in turn impact positively on the nation’s health care delivery sector.

    Nigerians are certainly familiar with the uncoordinated status of drug marketing and distribution of the past years and how these have posed great challenges not only for the health care delivery system but also for the image of the country. There is no doubt that the previous haphazard drug distribution system accounted for the presence of the huge chunk of adulterated, substandard and fake pharmaceuticals in our nation and this in turn has obviated our collective desire for effective, efficient and internationally comparable health care system.

    The new arrangement is expected to bring about the availability of affordable, efficacious, safe and good quality drugs. Also sources of drugs at every level of healthcare provision and mode of distribution would easily be identified thereby instilling orderliness and absolute confidence in their distribution. The new distribution template will enable local pharmaceutical products win back the lost confidence of Nigerians and consumers in the West African sub-region. Locally, the system will stop the careless and nonchalant display of drugs in open markets as only governments and privately owned health facilities nationwide will be source of all drugs.

    Similarly, quacks, and other intermediaries who lack knowledge of drug composition and capabilities would be chased out of markets; importers, smugglers, producers and marketers of counterfeited or fake pharmaceuticals will be compelled to stop flooding the nation’s health centres, hospitals, pharmacies and medicine stores with life-endangering substances under the regime of trade accountability that will be in place.

    In addition to restoring integrity and confidence to the pharmacy profession, the current ubiquitous drug selling and distribution practices which adorns the nation will fizzle out to give rise to a system where all drug dealers will source products from a unified, accountable, reliable and scientifically manned point of supply. Big time pharmaceutical dealers will take delivery of drug consignments meant for Nigerian markets from which minute drug dealers/sellers will depend for product supply which would have been thoroughly examined by NAFDAC for public consumption and use in medical centres.

    The challenge of curbing the influx of fake or counterfeited pharmaceutical products through our porous land borders will be automatically resolved with the establishment of international standard drug markets which will act as a single channel through which pharmaceutical products can gain entry into all nooks and crannies of the nation. We expect to see immediate results in reduction of infants and adults death rates alike; just as patronage for home made drugs will be boosted, thereby expanding local drug manufacturers’ revenue base, boosting their employment generating abilities while also guaranteeing job security for those employed in such firms as well.

    •Ikhilae, a public affairs analyst, writes from Lagos

  • Baker convicted for assaulting NAFDAC officials

    A Federal High Court in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, has convicted a baker, Nurudeen Afolabi, for assaulting officials of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    The presiding judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi, sentenced the baker to one year imprisonment with option of N4, 000.

    Afolabi, whose bakery is located at the Asubiaro area of Osogbo, was arraigned before the court on 12th of May, 2011.

    According to the charge sheet, Afolabi committed the offence under Section 25(1) of the NAFDAC Act, Cap 1, Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 25 (1) of same Act.

    The charge sheet further said on 15th of March, 2010 at Isale Agbara Street, Asubiaro in Osogbo, the convict attacked an Assistant Director of NAFDAC, Mrs. Yedunni

    Adenuga, and other officials of the agency when they found prohibited potassium bromate in his bakery.

    Afolabi started crying immediately he was pronounced guilty before conviction.

    The defence counsel, Mr. Aliu Adesina, urged the judge to be lenient with his client since he has shown remorse.

    He assured that Afolabi will turn a new leaf.

  • US, Nigeria team up to tackle fake drugs

    US, Nigeria team up to tackle fake drugs

    The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have intensified cooperation with its counterpart, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to regulate the amount of fake drugs and food that enter into the country.

    Dr. Beverly Corey, Senior Regional Advisor for sub-Saharan Africa, Office of International Programs, (FDA), who spoke in Abuja, observed that globalisation meant that the US can no longer sit at home and regulate products that come into her territory.

    She said: “We realised that we need to work more closely with our regulatory colleagues in other to strengthen what we call the global product safety network.

    “Globalisation has fundamentally changed on how we do business. We need to work with our regulatory colleagues to ensure that quality is built into products when they are manufactured.”

    The Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, noted that it makes sense to collaborate with the FDA in the areas of fake drugs and food control since it will help to reduce substandard products that find their way into the country.

    According to the NAFDAC boss:”Counterfeit drugs are militarised, globalised and digitalised.

    “It is now difficult to fight. Most of our problem is drug regulation. There is a pervasive ignorance in fake drug campaign.”

  • My Pikin syrup: Court delivers judgment Friday

    My Pikin syrup: Court delivers judgment Friday

    Federal High Court in Lagos will on Friday deliver judgment in a case of production of a killer teething syrup – My Pikin – preferred against the Barewa Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

    Justice Okechukwu Okeke fixed the date on Thursday.

    He shifted the judgment date to enable him to conclude writing of the verdict.

    Okeke had reserved judgment for Thursday after parties in the suit adopted their written addresses.

    The company and two of its employees — Adeyemo Abiodun and Ebele Eromosele – are being prosecuted by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on a six-count charge.

    The accused were re-arraigned on January 7, after the charge was amended following the death of the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kola Gbadegeshin, who was one of the accused.

    They, however, pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.

    NAFDAC said that “My Pikin” killed more than 80 children in Nigeria.

    The agency called seven witnesses in the trial, while the defence called one.

    According to the prosecution, the offences contravened Section 1 (a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act No. 25 of 1999.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a person convicted under the section is liable to a fine not exceeding N500, 000 or imprisonment for a period not less than five years or both.

     

  • NAFDAC apprehends suspected counterfeiter

    NAFDAC apprehends suspected counterfeiter

    THe National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has apprehended Mr Olisaemeka Osefoh for allegedly importing fake products estimated at N106 million from China.

    NAFDAC’s Director-General Dr Paul Orhii said the suspect has confessed to doing business with a cartel in China.

    Orhii, who addressed reporters yesterday in Lagos, explained that the suspect was arrested following a tip-off.

    The NAFDAC chief said the counterfeiter stored the products in a warehouse located at Progressive Traders Market, át the Trade Fair Complex, Lagos/Badagry Expressway.

    He said when the products were illegally cleared through the Tincan Island Port, Lagos.

    According to him, the products, which were in a large container, include body creams, neurological ointment, condoms and Iman luxury powder, among others.

    He said the agency is collaborating with the Chinese Embassy to track down the company who connived with the suspected faker to bring the fake products into the country.

    Orhii said counterfeiters now operate from markets that deal in other commodities to prevent being identified by the law enforcement agents.

    He said: “The landlords of warehouses stocked with counterfeit drugs and other sub-standards regulated products would from now be arrested and prosecuted as accomplices.”

  • ‘NAFDAC will eradicate fake drugs’

    ‘NAFDAC will eradicate fake drugs’

    The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has restated its determination to rid Nigeria of fake drugs.

    The Chairman of the agency’s Governing Council, Prof. John Ibu, spoke yesterday in Abuja at the end of the council’s two-day maiden meeting.

    He said the agency was mandated by President Goodluck Jonathan to eradicate fake drugs from the country in order to safeguard the health of residents.

    This, he promised, the agency will accomplish.

    According to him, Dr Jonathan and the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, have given the agency the mandate to eradicate drug counterfeiting across the land.

    Prof Ibu said: “NAFDAC aims to eradicate fake drugs, adulterated food and adulterated table water to make the nation healthy because a healthy nation will have a healthy economy.”

    NAFDAC’s Director-General, Dr Paul Orhii, expressed optimism that the agency will succeed in the fight against fake drugs and food.

    He said: “We have signed a contract with the Minister of Health to eradicate fake drugs from the country, and this is the goal NAFDAC hopes to achieve.”

  • NAFDAC laments sale of fake drugs

    NAFDAC laments sale of fake drugs

    The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has expressed worry over the hawking of drugs, and sale of fake and narcotic drugs in Kebbi State.

    The state Director-General of the agency, Mr. Bitrus Fradel, while fielding questions from reporters in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, said the development was dangerous.

    Mr. Fradel, who said hawking of drugs was more prevalent in Jega Local Government Area, also revealed that their exposure to harsh weather is also not in the interest of users as such drugs could be ineffective and harmful to health.

    The Director-General who said that the agency was grappling with the sale of fake and narcotic drugs in the state advised members of the public to be careful about what they buy and consume.

    He said drugs like tramol which are sold in almost every chemist’s store and which are used by many youths in the state should be used only when prescribed by a physician.

    “Tramol is supposed to be a prescribed drug but you can see that the youth are fond of using it indiscriminately,” he said.

    Mr. Fradel added that the registered milligram of Tramol as a product is 50mg. He said it is surprising that 200mg of the drug is available at various chemists’ shops and is being sold to and used by people, especially the youth.

    He said: “We have established a NAFDAC office in Kamba which is a border community with the Niger Republic to avoid the importation of fake Tramol and other drugs into Kebbi State.

  • Youths attack NAFDAC DG, others in Benue

    Protesting youths have attacked the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, and other officials of the agency in Benue State.

    The attack occurred at the agency’s destruction site on the University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM)/Gbajima Road, on the outskirts of Makurdi, the state capital.

    NAFDAC was planning to destroy some fake and expired products at the site when the youths invaded the area.

    They alleged that the fumes from the fire during the destruction of confiscated products constitute a hazard to their health.

    The protesters said several residents had become ill after inhaling the fumes, adding that expectant mothers had miscarriages any time NAFDAC destroyed confiscated items in the area.

    NAFDAC officials had poured fuel on the heap of expired items and were waiting for Governor Gabriel Suswam to set fire to the items when the youths and women, armed with sticks and placards, stormed the site and chase Dr Orhii and other officials away.

    Some of NAFDAC officials’ vehicles were smashed.

    The scene became rowdy as everyone scampered for safety.

    Spokesperson for the protesting youths, Udom Francis, told reporters that they would no longer allow toxic wastes to cause harm to the residents.

    Udoma said burning of expired drugs has contaminated the only source of water in the area, resulting in the death of livestocks. It has also caused rashes and body itching among the residents.

  • NAFDAC pushes for anti-counterfeit bill

    To you know that the highest punishment a drug counterfeiter can get is N500, 000 or a 15-year jail term if convicted.

    Why? Because of a defect in the law of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    The agency has been trying to push the Counterfeit Medical Products, Fake drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods ( Prohibition and Control) bill it is sponsoring at the National Assembly to address the anomally.

    It told the National Assembly of its plan to make faking of drugs and products a non-bailable offence through the bill.

    The Director General, Dr Paul Orhii, submitted the proposed bill to the executive about two years ago.

    When the Senate Committee on Health visited the Lagos office of NAFDAC, Orhii intimated members of the bill which was yet to get to the National Assembly. He told the panel of the bill and that it was not before it, warning that it may not be passed before the Seventh Assembly tenure ends.

    Its Chairman, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, said the Senate had yet to receive the bill from the executive arm since it was briefed on it about two years ago.

    He feared that counterfeiters may continue to fake drugs and other products, if the bill which is meant to curb their nefarious activities, was not passed.

    Okowa urged the executive to expedite action on the bill so that it can be processed as quickly as possible for president assent.

    He praised the agency for using electronic devices to detect fake drugs and for regulating herbal medicines, stressing that it was long overdue. “I also congratulate the agency on the World Health Organisation (WHO) prequalification, which it is pushing to ensure that Nigeria sells its drugs locally and oversea, for the pharmaceutical industry,” he said.

    NAFDAC Director-General, Dr Paul Orhii, said his agency is working round the clock on the bill as the agency will ensure that fakers get life jail term to discourage them from faking products.

    “The present law favours the counterfeiters because the highest punishment a counterfeiter who is caught can get is a 15 year jail term or a N500, 000 fine, as an option.

    “The proposed law states that if a faker caused an individual bodily harm or death his assets would be confiscated and used to pay the victim. The proposed law would ensure that whistle blowers are rewarded with a token without disclosing their identity to the public,” he stated.

  • NAFDAC laments sale of fake drugs

    The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has expressed worry over the hawking of drugs, and sale of fake and narcotic drugs in Kebbi State.

    The state Director-General of the agency, Mr. Bitrus Fradel, while fielding questions from reporters in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, said the development was dangerous.

    Mr. Fradel, who said hawking of drugs was more prevalent in Jega Local Government Area, also revealed that their exposure to harsh weather is also not in the interest of users as such drugs could be ineffective and harmful to health.

    The Director-General who said that the agency was grappling with the sale of fake and narcotic drugs in the state advised members of the public to be careful about what they buy and consume.

    He said drugs like tramol which are sold in almost every chemist’s store and which are used by many youths in the state should be used only when prescribed by a physician.

    “Tramol is supposed to be a prescribed drug but you can see that the youth are fond of using it indiscriminately,” he said.

    Mr. Fradel added that the registered milligram of Tramol as a product is 50mg. He said it is surprising that 200mg of the drug is available at various chemists’ shops and is being sold to and used by people, especially the youth.

    He said: “We have established a NAFDAC office in Kamba which is a border community with the Niger Republic to avoid the importation of fake Tramol and other drugs into Kebbi State.