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By Doris Obinna
The Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Moji Adeyeye, said, the proliferation of sub-standard and falsified medicines pose danger to public health and economic growth.
She disclosed this at the 23rd edition of NECCI PR Roundtable 2023, held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
Adeyeye, in her keynote address, said illicit sales and distribution of sub-standard and falsified medicines were threatening the attainment of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and leading to global assault on public health globally.
This menace, she noted, portends grave financial losses, possible divestment and close of shop for the pharmaceutical industry.
Adeyeye, however, said no single agency could undertake the battle alone, adding that the approach must be multi-faceted.
Saying concerted efforts were needed, she further identified gaps as uncoordinated drug distribution and supply chain system; drug hawking and proliferation of street/open drug markets; increasing use of postal/ courier services for dispatch of small parcels of sub-standard and falsified medicines.
“Availability of advanced technologies; reduced risks of prosecution; non-deterrent laws and weak penalties; proliferation of rogue online pharmacists/ unregulated sales of medicines online; ignorance, poverty and high cost of living; scarcity of medicines and abuse of free trade zones and lawful trade facilitation mechanisms.”
Linking fight against illicit trade to effective communication, convener NECCI PR Roundtable 2023, Nkechi Ali-Balogun identified communication as a strategic tool in the battle against illicit trade.
Earlier on in her welcome address, the veteran PR practitioner observed that the pharmaceutical industry has witnessed remarkable advancements, boasting the potential to transform lives.
Regrettably, Ali-Balogun added that the dark shadow of illicit trade threatens the very core of the industry’s noble mission, jeopardizing public health and eroding the trust fundamental to the patient industry relationship.
Speaking on the theme of the event: “Fighting the Scourge of Illicit Trade In The Pharma Industry: The Role of Communication,” she stated: “I have seen people die taking fake drugs, I have seen people turning nurses overnight and patients are taken to their homes. It is on the increase.
“The question is, how long are we going to continue? how long will the village man or market woman buy drugs without knowing whether it is fake or not;? how do they identify fake drugs or the implication of taking fake drugs?
“Communication, as a powerful tool, plays a major role in the battle against illicit trade. Communication plays a vital role in sharing best practices, raising awareness and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and providing transparency within the supply chain to track products from manufacturer to patients.”
According to her, the aim of the PR Roundtable is to bring to the fore topical issues that needed communication. “Information is power and without information, we can’t have knowledge and without knowledge, we can’t have understanding. The PR Roundtable interrogates topical issues, importance of communication and how it impacts on relationships, businesses and lifestyle.
“For the past twenty three years, it has been about passion and patriotism for me. Irrespective of what is happening, I love Nigeria. I know we have so much to celebrate and talk about in this country.”
While adding funding as one of the challenges encountered, she called on the government for partnership.
Chairman, NECCI PR Roundtable 2023, Senator Daisy Danjuma, noted there is need to commend Nkechi for sustaining the programme for twenty-three years. She assured: “We’ll try our best to support the programme.”
She also expressed happiness with the presence of the young undergraduates at the event, adding they need to be properly equipped to confront future challenges.
