1st March, 2011
To ensure that its regulations conform with international standards, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has restated its determination to tackle the menace of fake and counterfeit drugs, even as it alerted the public on the circulation of counterfeit anti-malaria drugs and antibiotics in the country.
The Deputy Director, Ports Inspections, NAFDAC, Mrs. Comfort Makanjuola, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen after the successful inspection and demonstration of a sophisticated medical device, TRUSCAN, for on-the-spot testing and detection of fake drugs in the system.
Makanjuola disclosed that NAFDAC operatives have visited more than 15 states of the federation since TRUSCAN was acquired a year ago, adding that the aim was to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the drugs in circulation.
“From our survey, anti-malaria drugs like Artesunate with batch number 07015S,and Amalar with two different primary and secondary batch numbers of AMEH051 and AMEH015 were found to be fake.
“We have gone round most of the pharmaceutical stores and patent medicine outlets to test the quality of drugs in circulation. Most of the ones tested in the state are of good quality.
“In most of the places visited, we discovered that they buy their drugs directly from the manufacturers or their representatives, which is the reason why there is high rate of passes.â€
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