By Kayode Ojewale
Drugs are medicines
with physiological effects when taken which are used to treat illness, relieve
a symptom or modify a chemical process in the body for specific purpose. On the
other hand, fake drugs are drugs with low or wrong concentration of active ingredients,
and in some cases with no active ingredient, packaged and marketed in deceptive
manner. In clear terms, fake drugs are drugs which do not meet regulatory
standards and approvals.
Drug counterfeiters release these drugs for sale at ridiculously
cheap prices. This illicit act of drug counterfeiting by some unscrupulous
elements in the society is not only worrisome and disturbing to the original
manufacturers of the authentic products but also of great concern to the food
and drug administrator and regulator in the country.
In order to arrest the awkward trend of these
counterfeiters, a Federal Government agency made a renewed commitment to
eliminate substandard foods and drugs in the country. The responsibility for
eliminating falsified, adulterated and unsafe drugs, medical devices, food and
water in
As its anti-counterfeiting campaign theme, the
World Health Organisation (WHO) uses the slogan “Counterfeit Drugs kill” and
this message explicitly conveys the consequential effect of counterfeit drug
not only on the industry but also on the fake drug consumer in the society at
large. Other challenges of fake drugs are body resistance to drugs, therapeutic
failure and economic setback for the country.
Not too long ago, NAFDAC recommended stiffer penalty for drug counterfeiters to
serve as deterrent to others. Professor Adeyeye, the DG said the penalty
according to the provisions of the law for illicit drug dealers or drug
offenders in the country is too weak and therefore called for such a law to be
reviewed. She further revealed that, the agency had presented a bill to the
National Assembly proposing more punishments for illicit and falsified drug
dealers. She noted that food and drugs are too important in human life to toy
with. The agency’s boss said, “Fake and illicit drugs kill people and the
judgment the offenders usually get is so insignificant when compared to the
level of offence committed. Getting judgments of months or two years’
imprisonment is not enough. We must do everything possible to get a law in
place that will recommend stiffer penalty for drug counterfeiters.”
This is also calling on the National Assembly at this time to expedite action
on the National Drug Control Bill by urgently examining and passing the
proposed bill into law. The bill seeks to eradicate illicit production,
importation and trafficking of controlled substances by clarifying objectively
the mandate and capacity of NDLEA and NAFDAC, as well as other relevant law
enforcement and regulatory bodies. The bill is also aimed at criminalizing the
diversion, distribution or dispensing of controlled substances with no license
or prescription. When this bill becomes law, then ignorance of the law will be
no excuse for illicit drug dealers and offenders any more.
The introduction and deployment of Mobile
Authentication Service (MAS) – a scheme which enables consumers to check
whether a drug is authentic or not, is a welcome development from NAFDAC as
this has to a large extent controlled drug counterfeiting especially in
antimalarial and antibacterial drug categories. The food and drug agency, some
days ago, in partnership with Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) presented
guidelines to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of the MAS scheme.
You will recall that the House of Representative suggested that the agency
utilise MAS for all drugs regulated by it.
To effectively combat fake dugs and rid the
country of counterfeiters, there should be: First, effective public
enlightenment on the deadly effects of fake drugs, engagement and monitoring of
drug distribution among dealers. Secondly, provision of adequate technology
protection for the identity of genuine drugs. Thirdly, improving the quality
assurance operations of drug manufacturers nationwide. Fourthly, vigilance and
advocacy by health care providers. Finally, NDLEA, Standards Organisation of
Nigeria (SON), Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Nigeria Customs Service
(NCS), State Security Service (SSS) and other law enforcement or security
agencies and regulatory bodies should to collaborate to produce a society free
of fake and substandard drugs.
*Ojewale wrote from Idimu,Lagos .
*Ojewale wrote from Idimu,
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