Renewed vigour key to ending counterfeit drugs

The battle against the menace of fake, counterfeit and adulterated medicines has been a longstanding one in Nigeria. In response to this, the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) came into being partly as the government response to the growing threat posed by the widespread availability of these dangerous substances in markets […]

The battle against the menace of fake, counterfeit and adulterated medicines has been a longstanding one in Nigeria. In response to this, the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) came into being partly as the government response to the growing threat posed by the widespread availability of these dangerous substances in markets and even pharmacies all over the country.

On Monday, February 10, NAFDAC commenced an enforcement at the popular Ogbo-Ogu Market, Bridge Head, Onitsha, in Anambra State. During the exercise, led by the Director, NAFDAC South East Zone, Dr Martins Iluyomade, the agency confiscated a wide range of adulterated, substandard and expired drugs at various shops.

Addressing journalists during the exercise, he said, “Today, we are commencing our enforcement at the Ogbo-Ogu Market. What triggered the exercise is that over time, we have been collating data and gathering intelligence on fake and substandard drugs in the market, and we got to the tail end and discovered that people are repackaging fake and counterfeit drugs in the market. At the end of the exercise, which took more than five days, no fewer than 10 trucks of fully loaded 40-foot containers of fake, substandard and adulterated drugs out of the market were taken out. Some of these drugs also have spurious NAFDAC approval claims.’’

Also on February 9, NAFDAC sealed the Idumota open drug market in Lagos State, Ariaria drug market in Aba, Abia State, among others after conducting operations against illegal and counterfeit drugs.

• Bill for early voting passes second reading in Senate
• Tinubu’s meeting with Lagos lawmakers ended speakership speculations – APC

To say the least, the activities of these saboteurs and counterfeiters are inimical to the growth and well-being of the populace as they endanger the health and businesses of all and sundry. Beside robbing the poor of their limited incomes, the resulting maiming and killing of innocent victims following the consumption of these products are unacceptable and must be fought using every means at our disposal.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in its threat assessment report (2023), sub-Saharan Africa has as many as 267,000 deaths per year linked to falsified and substandard antimalarial medicines alone.  In addition, up to 169,271 deaths are linked to falsified and substandard antibiotics used to treat severe pneumonia in children.

Trafficking these products is also taking a direct economic toll on affected countries. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that caring for people who have used falsified or substandard medical products for malaria treatment in sub-Saharan Africa costs between $12 million to $44.7 million every year.

Some diseases develop resistant mechanisms due to the prevalence of fake or low-quality drugs. For example, some fake antibiotic drugs on the counterfeit market often contain the wrong antibiotic or low doses of the right one. This won’t cure an infection but contributes to antibiotic resistance.

We at Daily Trust believe that it is, indeed, a sad commentary that we have allowed fake drug merchants to grow to this level where fighting them has become truly a herculean endeavour, largely because some of those saddled with the responsibility of checking their activities have been compromised. But it will be criminally irresponsible not to do something about it. NAFDAC, therefore, needs all the support it can get in its quest to rid the country of fake, counterfeit and illicit drugs. No effort should be spared in dealing severely with unscrupulous persons who try to turn Nigeria into a global dumping ground for their deadly merchandise.

We urge NAFDAC to sustain this renewed vigour to weed and free our society of the fake and substandard drugs.

We call on the agency to reintroduce its earlier cooperation with foreign drug companies where Nigeria imports its drugs from to ensure that only standard drugs are sold to importers.

The federal government could assist in liaising with governments of such countries to ensure that drug manufacturers follow due process in their dealings with Nigeria.

The involvement of the international community is important, given that governments in host manufacturing countries can be persuaded to join the fight by imposing tighter controls and sanctions on all fake goods, especially drugs manufactured in their countries.

NAFDAC should also strive for more consistent policing. The renewed fight must be sustained for it to have a meaningful effect on the society. If there had not been laxity before the recent market shuts should not have occurred. The regulatory role must be pursued diligently.

The federal government should also step in to help the pharmaceutical companies with some form of grants or incentives like tax waivers to help in producing the needed drugs in the country as it may be easier to effectively police such. This will ensure effective control of the drugs we use.

This is a fight we cannot afford to lose.