Unregistered medicine remains fake until certified —NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Wednesday warned that all unregistered medicines remain fake drug until it passed through the Agency’s vital registration process, numbering and check.

The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, gave the warning at a sensitisation workshop in Enugu State

Speaking at the workshop tagged ‘NAFDAC’s regulatory expectation of NAPPMED in Nigeria”, Professor Adeyeye urged members of National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers to abide by its regulatory guidelines and rules on drug administration.

Represented by NAFDAC South-East Zonal Director, Mrs Olajumoke Ojetokun, the NAFDAC boss explained that the dangers of the use of counterfeit and unwholesome medicines are enormous which according to her “range from pharmacological issues such as; respiratory depression (shallow breath and irregular breathing), central depression/severe drowsiness.

“Other dangers are; muscle rigidity, unconsciousness/coma to socio-economic problems such as; crime, terrorism, loss of economic productivity and pressure on the healthcare systems,’’ she said.

The director-general also urged NAPPMED members to join the train of compliance and “active collaboration’’ with NAFDAC to create a healthy and safe country for all.

“Always be vigilant within your market area and neighbourhoods and alert NAFDAC immediately for action” even as she assured of a robust and cordial relationship between the association and NAFDAC.

Speaking, Mr Chuks Osuji, Chairman of NAPPMED Ogbete Market (Section B), said that the association was committed to working with NAFDAC.

“We are ever ready to obey all the instructions given by NAFDAC and maintain a cordial relationship with the Agency,’’ Osuji said.

On his part, Mr Oliver Ezemba, Chairman of NAPPMED Ogbete Market (Section A), noted that NAPPMED members had been longing for a workshop like this, where individual members would be taught best practices and how to ensure compliance.

“It is clear that whenever someone sells an unwholesome or fake drug or medicine; it might be your family or friend that might end up using it,’’ Ezemba said.

The workshop, which was jointly organized by NAFDAC and NAPPMED, was attended by over 200 NAPPMED members excluding NAFDAC staff.