NAFDAC ROLLS OUT NATION-WIDE DRUG SECURITY SCHEME

Abiodun Oba |

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), is rolling out a pharmacovigilance/post-marketing surveillance and drug security scheme nation-wide for inspection of open markets and community pharmacy practice sites.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General, Prof. Adeyeye made this known while speaking at the University of Jos public lecture which she delivered on ‘Drug Security and National Development: Prospects and Challenges’.

Adeyeye said the measure would contribute greatly to minimising substandard and fake drugs, unregistered products, chemicals and illicit drugs, as well as strengthening maintenance of drug security.

On recent reports, alleging that some drugs from China were made of human parts and were imported into Nigeria, NAFDAC DG said the agency has been working with Chinese and Korean agencies to ensure that imported drugs are safe for Nigerians.

Adeyeye revealed that the agency immediately contacted the Chinese and Korean agencies to verify the claims.

She assured that there was nothing of sort but they have what is called ‘placenta homonense’ used as oral medicine.

According to her, they have been using the drug in South East Asia for a long time.

“They said that the drug cures one ailment or the other and that it is a biological material.

“But we told them that what was good for the Asians may not be good for the Africans because we have different genetic dispositions.

“And they said that they produce the drug in thousands, usually drugs are produced in millions of doses. Very likely the drug is sold as traditional medicine for them,” she explained.

The Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, appreciated the guest lecturer for the presentation and presented some souvenirs to the DG as a mark of appreciation.