The Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management has urged open drug entrepreneurs to relocate to coordinated wholesale centres to curb substandard and falsified medicines.
The Director Normal of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, mentioned this at a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja.
Adeyeye mentioned the chaotic drug distribution system in Nigeria has been a sore level for drug regulatory companies.
She mentioned, “This disorderly chain of motion of medication within the provide chain, from the producer to the ultimate devour, is inimical to the efficacy of pharmaceutical merchandise and is the first explanation for SF medicines in circulation.
“To remove SFs, the Presidential Committee on Pharmaceutical Sector Reform was constituted in 2003 to amongst others to develop methods in the direction of the sanitisation of the drug distribution system in Nigeria. The Coordinated Wholesale Centres is a product of the PCPSR. The Coordinating Minister of Well being and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, is without doubt one of the architects of CWC and in full assist of the centres.
“The PCPSR advisable the event of Nationwide Drug Distribution Tips as a key technique to coordinate the drug distribution sub-sector and all operators within the open drug markets in Kano, Lagos, Onitsha and Aba got December 2018 as deadline by the then Minister of Well being to relocate to CWC, Prof Isaac Adewole.
“The NDDG provides a transparent mandate to the regulatory companies, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, and the NAFDAC to make sure its full implementation and compliance by all involved stakeholders.”
She famous that the CWC in Kano was the primary to be constructed as a part of making certain correct regulation of drug distribution and sale in Nigeria and mitigation of SFs.
On February 16, Justice Simon Amobeda within the Kano Federal Excessive Courtroom ordered the open drug entrepreneurs in Kano to relocate their shops to Dangwauro CWC, positioned on Zaria Highway in Kano state.
Sequel to this court docket ruling, NAFDAC and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria launched into an enforcement motion on February 17 and 18, to trigger the relocation of the medication sellers from the open drug markets of Sabon Gari, Malam Kato, and Mai Karaimi to the CWC.
A complete of 1,370 wholesale medication shops and packing shops had been sealed within the three open drug markets.
“The judgement that the open drug entrepreneurs ought to transfer to the Kano CWC is monumental as a result of the management of drug distribution shall be higher regulated and prevalence of substandard medicines shall be mitigated considerably.
“For the reason that starting of my tenure in 2017, the drive to mitigate SFs is without doubt one of the eight pillars of my administration, and the efforts which have been made led NAFDAC to the attainment of Maturity Degree three of each NAFDAC and PCN. NAFDAC had seven modules, whereas PCN had one module (Web site Licence) of the WHO International Benchmarking,” she said.
She famous that the court docket order will set the priority for open drug entrepreneurs in Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba, as they need to be prepared to maneuver into the CWCs within the respective cities as quickly as such amenities are constructed.
“Having the CWCs within the completely different cities can also be a part of the actions of the Federal Job Drive that’s headquartered in NAFDAC however operationalised in collaboration with the states. The Coordinating Minister of Well being and Social Welfare might want to implore state governors and governments to please be part of palms with NAFDAC and PCN as a part of the Federal Taskforce to assist the constructing of the CWCs in different cities. A short on this shall be despatched to the Honourable CMHSW quickly.
“The drugs sellers ought to see this transfer to the CWC as a constructive transfer for the survival of public well being and as a part of efforts to proceed the combat in opposition to substandard and falsified medicines.
“Eradicating SFs from the circulation will make Nigerians more healthy, and since solely wholesome our bodies can contribute positively to the financial system, it would make Nigerians wealthier and the financial system higher,” she added.