Not just about policing food and drugs

To be fair, the body has had a better-than-average image even before Orhii’s appointment as the agency’s Director-General.  Due credit must be given to Orhii’s predecessor in office, the late Professor Dora Akunyili, who worked hard at combating the menace of fake and substandard drugs in Nigeria and thereby raised NAFDAC’s profile in no small […]

To be fair, the body has had a better-than-average image even before Orhii’s appointment as the agency’s Director-General.  Due credit must be given to Orhii’s predecessor in office, the late Professor Dora Akunyili, who worked hard at combating the menace of fake and substandard drugs in Nigeria and thereby raised NAFDAC’s profile in no small way.
Orhii’s tenure has been marked by four major innovations which have transformed the role of NAFDAC as a medicine regulatory agency tasked with safeguarding the health of the nation.  One of the most prominent of these four innovations is the use of new technologies to combat the menace of fake drugs.  Among these new technologies are Truscan, a handheld device for detecting fake drugs; Black Eye, a device that can screen several drug samples at the same time; Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) using Short Message Service (SMS); and Mini Laboratories that can be used in the field for speedy evaluation of medicines.
It is worth noting here that NAFDAC is the first medicines regulatory agency in the world to deploy Truscan in detecting fake and substandard medicines and other regulated products at the nation’s ports of entry.  Also, under the current leadership, NAFDAC scored another first when the agency introduced the MAS.  What remains unique about the MAS is how the technology effectively empowers every Nigerian who owns a mobile phone to be able to confirm the authenticity of any medicine or regulated product by simply scratching a bar code on the pack of the product and texting the number found there to a designated short code number.
Another area where Orhii has been remarkably successful is challenging the ability of counterfeiters who operate with impunity across international borders.  For instance, Orhii signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) to put a stop to Nigerian and international criminals seeking to import fake or expired drugs and other substandard products from China into Nigeria. As a direct result of NAFDAC’s collaboration with Chinese authorities, six Chinese counterfeiters who specialized in the manufacture and exportation of fake anti-malaria drugs were charged to Chinese courts, tried and sentenced to death.
Moreover, the body is also collaborating with Indian authorities to stop counterfeiters from exporting fake or substandard drugs from that country into Nigeria. Indeed, the Indian Government has instituted a whistle-blower incentive system guaranteeing a reward of N300,000 to any Nigeria who reports counterfeit drugs or other regulated products of Indian origin. Also, international collaboration efforts have resulted in India, China and the United States of America reserving slots for staff members in order to help train them in fighting counterfeit drugs.
The third major innovation being canvassed by the body is the need to stipulate stiffer penalties for those found guilty of drug counterfeiting offences. Orhii has taken the position that the present punishment of 15 years in prison, with an option of N500, 000-fine for drug counterfeiting offences is too mild. In his words, “It is most paradoxical and challenging to us that while these distant countries are taking appropriate and other measures in checking counterfeiting, we in Nigeria that are at the receiving end and most hit are lenient.” It is clear that NAFDAC is proving that there exist some government agencies where slothfulness and inefficiencies are nonexistent.
Mr. Momodu contributed this piece from Benin City, Edo State.