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NAFDAC dispels claims that 70% of drugs in Nigeria are fake

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), has dispelled claims that 70% of pharmaceutical products (drugs) in Nigeria are fake, saying such claims will make Nigerians and Foreigners lose confidence in the Country’s health system.

Director of Special Duties, Abubakar Jimoh, said the Agency’s attention was drawn to a report citing an expert in some of the National dailies alleging that there are over 70% fake and counterfeit drugs in circulation in the Nigerian market.

He stated that such assertion was a great disservice to Nigeria, as it undermines the efforts of NAFDAC and other agencies in the fight against counterfeit medicines in the Country.

“Ordinarily, we don’t respond to such statement but since he described himself as an expert and that he is coming from outside the Country, we believe that we have to take it seriously so that our people will not be misinformed”.

Jimoh explained that in 2005, NAFDAC in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) carried out a study on all categories of drugs, noting that the result put the level of fake drugs in the Country at 16.7%.

He also stated that in 2012, NAFDAC carried out another survey for all categories of medicines, using the Truscan nationwide, and the outcome showed there was a drop from 16.7% to 6.4%.

“We decided to do a survey to determine the circulation of fake Anti-Malaria medicines alone also in 2012 and we got 19.6%.

“In 2014, another national survey on the circulation of fake Anti-Malaria by United States (US) Pharmacopeia was conducted and the result was 3.6%”.

Jimoh pointed out that the Agency is working there is evidence both research- wise and scientifically to show that there has been a downward slide in the circulation of fake and counterfeit products in the country.

He noted that NAFDAC remained committed and determined to fight counterfeit drugs in the country.

The Agency was reacting to a keynote address, delivered by the Financial Services Advisory Leader and Chief Economist, Project Blue PWc Nigeria, Andrew Nevin, who said at least 70% of pharmaceutical products circulating in Nigeria are fake, at the opening of the 90th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) in Umuahia, Abia State.

Nevin also stated that Africa records 100,000 deaths, arising from counterfeit drugs related ailments annually.

The Governor of Abia State in his speech, called on NAFDAC to withdraw its stamp of authority from all producers of herbal medicines, saying it cannot vouch for their efficacy.

On Wikipedia, this was found; “Fake antimalarial medication has been threatening efforts to control malaria in Africa.

“According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2011, 64% of Nigeria’s imported antimalarial drugs were fake.

“Nigeria is Africa’s largest drugs market, and over 70% of its drugs are imported from India and China, considered the “biggest source of fakes”.

The ‘expert’ probably got his statistics from Wikipedia.

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