NAFDAC Warns Ebonyi Patent Medicine Dealers Against Fake Drugs

Patent medicine dealers in Ebonyi State face stiffer penalties if they engage in the sale and distribution of fake, substandard and unregistered medicines.

THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) gave the warning on Tuesday in Abakakili during a sensitisation meeting with members of the Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPMED) in the state.

NAFDAC’s state Coordinator, Emeka Orajaka, used the forum to charge the dealers to strengthen their vigilance to prevent dangerous medicines from getting to consumers.

According to him, the interaction was aimed at educating the dealers on how to identify, prevent and report the circulation of falsified and substandard medicines. He expressed concern over the presence of fake medicines in the market, warning that such products posed serious risks to public health.

“Falsified medicines are deliberately manufactured or packaged to look like genuine products from legitimate pharmaceutical companies, making it difficult for unsuspecting consumers to distinguish between them,” he said.

He therefore told the dealers to patronise only authorised suppliers, “conduct regular inspections of their stocks and promptly report suspicious products and individuals to the agency, the police or their association’s leadership”.

He also launched NAFDAC’S online verification platform registration.nafdac.gov.ng, and advised members of the association to download the NAFDAC Greenbook application to verify the registration status and authenticity of medicines before purchasing or selling them.

Orajaka further tasked the dealers to cooperate with NAFDAC enforcement officials by tendering suspicious drugs in their shops for inspection. In his words, “Educate your members and customers on the dangers of counterfeit medicines. Tackling the circulation of fake drugs requires collective commitment from regulators, medicine dealers and the general public.”

The President of Ebonyi State chapter of NAPMED, Mr Jerry Ikporu, said the sensitisation was timely and beneficial.

According to him, “This has equipped our members with knowledge of banned, fake, substandard and unregistered medicines. It exposed our members to digital platforms through which they can access relevant information and verify products with NAFDAC.”

The president assured the agency of the association’s commitment to implementing the knowledge acquired. He urged members “to exercise caution when handling medicines and carefully study drug leaflets to understand their ingredients, indications and recommended dosages”.

He also encouraged residents to take advantage of government-supported healthcare programmes, including the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency, to improve access to healthcare services.

The Chairman of NAPMED at the International Market, Mr Steven -Udeze Okpucha, stated that the association had established a monitoring committee to check the activities of members and enforce compliance with regulations.