Bukola Abe
It is imperative for members of the public to join the National Agency For Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, in its fight against fake, adulterated and substandard drugs.
The Director, Investigation and Enforcement, of NAFDAC, Mr Shaba Muhammad and the former President, Nigeria Association Of Industrial Pharmacists, Dr Lolu Ojo, made the call while featuring as guests on Issues in the News, a news-based programme of Radio One 103.5 FM, Lagos.
Mr Mohammed, who emphasized the duty of NAFDAC in protecting Nigerians from all forms of substandard medicines,insisted that the fight against counterfeit medicines requires a united front.
The NAFDAC director warned that the sale of drugs in markets, moving vehicles, kiosks, or hawking of drugs is prohibited by law, as such are peddlers of fake and counterfeit drugs.
Mr Mohammed solicited for information from the public that can strengthen the fight against falsified and substandard products.
“We don’t sell medicines in certain locations, infact, the law forbids sale of drugs in markets, moving vehicles, kiosks or those hawking drugs under the sun. They are all peddlers of fake, counterfeit and adultrated drugs and people should stop patronising them”
Speaking on how to identify certified pharmaceutical stores, Dr Lolu Ojo, pointed out that such stores must have a certified pharmacist on ground.
Dr Ojo criticized people who make fortunes from the vulnerability of peoples illnesses saying that such acts have increased morbidity rates.
“Let us accept that medicines are not ordinary articles of trade. As a rule, medicines are poisons. If when administered at a controlled dose, controlled duration can confer health benefits, therefore it is not for fun that the nation has separate rules for handling pharmaceuticals”
Dr Ojo canvassed for the exposure of peddlers of fake , expired, poorly stored drugs stating that people can leverage on technology to report such so as to nip the crime in the bud.