The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has raised an urgent alert regarding the proliferation of substandard and counterfeit medicines across Nigeria, warning of severe public health risks.
Speaking at a community awareness workshop held in Kaduna on Friday, Director of NAFDAC’s North West Zone, Bala Mshelia, emphasized the agency’s proactive measures to tackle the growing threat of fake medicines in the region.
“We are maximising efforts to curb the menace of substandard and falsified medicines in the state,” Mshelia stated, highlighting the increasing presence of specific problematic drugs.
He pointed to antimalarials like Fansidar 25/500mg and Combiart 20/120mg, along with antibiotics such as OHEAL Ampicillin and Cloxacillin Capsules, as key targets.
Other compromised medications include treatments for hypertension, diabetes, and various lifestyle diseases, indicating a broad spectrum of at-risk drugs in circulation.
Mshelia stressed the need for a united front in the battle against these dangerous products.
“The fight against substandard and falsified medicines cannot be won in isolation. It requires collaboration between government agencies, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and the public,” he said, urging all stakeholders to work together to ensure the safety and efficacy of medicines available to Nigerians.
“As we proceed with this workshop, let us remember that the fight against substandard and falsified medicines cannot be won in isolation. It requires collaboration between government agencies, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and the public. Together, we can create a future where every medicine on the shelf is safe, genuine, and beneficial to the health of our communities,” Mshelia reiterated, calling for collective action.
Adding their voices to the call for vigilance, Sunday Ukoh, Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, affirmed the profession’s commitment to tackling the issue.
“We must be on the lookout to do the needful,” he said, pledging the Society’s support to NAFDAC’s efforts.
Similarly, Abosede Garba, Vice Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists, highlighted the essential role pharmacists play in this fight.
“As frontline healthcare providers, pharmacists bear a crucial responsibility in combating this challenge. We must be vigilant, proactive, and steadfast in promoting safe medication use,” she stated, emphasizing the need for vigilance within the pharmaceutical community.
In response to the escalating crisis, NAFDAC has intensified its surveillance activities, regulatory measures, and educational campaigns, aiming to raise public awareness and protect the health of Nigerians from the dangers posed by these substandard and falsified medicines.
