Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a stern call to open drug marketers, urging them to relocate to coordinated wholesale centres in a bid to combat substandard and falsified medicines.
Addressing reporters during a press briefing in Abuja, NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized the urgent need to streamline Nigeria’s chaotic drug distribution system, which has long been a concern for regulatory agencies. She underscored how the disorderly movement of medicine along the supply chain compromises the efficacy of pharmaceutical products and exacerbates the proliferation of substandard medicines.
Adeyeye highlighted the Presidential Committee on Pharmaceutical Sector Reform’s role in developing strategies to sanitize Nigeria’s drug distribution system, including the establishment of Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWCs). These centers, initiated by the PCPSR and supported by key figures like Prof Ali Pate, aim to regulate drug distribution and curb the circulation of substandard medicines.
The NAFDAC director pointed out that the enforcement of National Drug Distribution Guidelines, mandated by the PCPSR, is crucial for ensuring compliance among stakeholders. She commended the construction of the first CWC in Kano as a milestone in regulating drug distribution and combating substandard medicines.
In a significant legal development, Justice Simon Amobeda of the Kano Federal High Court recently ordered open drug marketers to relocate their stores to the Dangwauro CWC. Following this ruling, NAFDAC and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria conducted enforcement actions to facilitate the relocation of medicine dealers from open drug markets to the CWC.
A total of 1,370 wholesale medicine outlets and packing stores were sealed during this enforcement action, marking a significant step towards better-regulated drug distribution.
Adeyeye emphasized that the court’s decision sets a precedent for open drug marketers in other cities like Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba to prepare for relocation to CWCs once facilities are established. She urged stakeholders to view this transition positively as a critical step in safeguarding public health and continuing the fight against substandard and falsified medicines, ultimately leading to a healthier populace and a stronger economy.
