We’ve Reduced Level of Fake Drugs to 3.6%, says NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has revealed that it has reduced counterfeit of anti-malaria drugs from 19.6 per cent in 2012 to 3.6 per cent in 2015.

In a press statement, the Director General of the agency, Dr. Paul Orhii said the feat was realized as a result of a national survey on quality of anti-malaria medicines, adding that the nation-wide survey conducted in six geopolitical zones in the country was jointly undertaken by the National Malaria Elimination Programme of the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC with the funding support by United States Pharmacopeial and USAID.

He said the introduction and deployment of new anti-counterfeiting cutting-edge technologies such as TRUSCAN, Mobile Authentication Services (MAS), Mini-laboratory and Deep Infra-red technology by NAFDAC under his watch were majorly responsible for the ground breaking success so far recorded in ensuring safe and good quality medicines in the country.

While reiterating his determination to completely eradicate the menace of counterfeit drugs in the country, Dr. Orhii noted that the Agency has again done Nigeria and Africa proud with the remarkable achievement coming closely on the heels of the recent seizure of N5billion counterfeit drugs evacuated from five warehouses in Lagos.

The Director-General thanked the USP, USAID, Federal Ministry of Health and other partner agencies for their support towards the anti-counterfeiting war.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute who chaired the survey report commended the United States Government for providing the needed fund for the survey while noting that the cheering news of the reduction in counterfeit drugs came at a time Nigeria has recorded progress in other public health issues.