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… PCN Warns Lagos, Onitsha, Aba Drug Traders To RelocateTo CWCs
LAGOS – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has admitted that the chaotic chain of medicine distribution in the supply chain; from the manufacturer to the final consumer is the primary cause of Substandard and Falsified (SF) medicines in circulation in the country.
NAFDAC’s DG Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye made the admission during a joint press briefing with the Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, held on Tuesday 26th of November 2024 in Lagos to update the nation on the relocation of open drug marketers into approved CWCs established by the federal government as part of efforts to tackle the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines in the country.
According to her the circulation of substandard and falsified drugs has caused great havoc in the Nigerian healthcare sector, hence NAFDAC and collaboration with PCN have continued to fight against substandard and falsified medicines
“The chaotic drug distribution system in Nigeria and open drug markets have been a sore point to drug regulatory Agencies, especially to NAFDAC. This disorderly chain of movement of medicine in the supply chain, from the manufacturer to the final consumer is inimical to the efficacy of pharmaceutical products and is the primary cause of Substandard and Falsified (SF) medicines in circulation. The consequence of this is treatment failure or even death. Therefore, to make Nigerians healthier and reduce mortality, NAFDAC and our sister Agency, PCN, must continue to fight against SFs.
“The fight started decades ago when the Presidential Committee on Pharmaceutical Sector Reform (PCPSR), constituted in 2003 developed strategies towards the sanitization of the drug distribution system in Nigeria. The Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWC), where the open marketers can be relocated for proper monitoring, is a product of the PCPSR. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, is one of the architects of CWC and in full support of the Centres,” she said.
PCN Registrar in his response, warned Open Drug Markets operators in Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba to get ready to relocate into the approved Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWCs) in their respective cities as soon as their facilities are built.
The PCN Registrar directive is coming on the heels of the February 16, 2024, Kano Federal High Court ruling by Justice Simon Amobeda, which ordered the open drug marketers to relocate their stores to Dangwauro Coordinated Wholesale Centre.
According to him as soon as facilities in the three states are built, the open drug marketers are expected to relocate immediately as no extension will be allowed.
He described the Simon Amobeda ruling that ordered the movement of open drug marketers to Kano CWC as monumental because it would make the control of drug distribution better regulated and eliminate substandard medicines.
“The continued fight against SFs to make our citizens healthier has been blessed by the judgment of Justice Amobeda. It is most significant for both NAFDAC and PCN because it shows the resolve of the two Agencies to get rid of SFs in our markets and sets a good pathway toward attainment of Maturity Level 4.
Justice Amobeda’s judgment has set the precedence that open drug marketers in other three big cities, where there is large trading of medicines – Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba – should be ready to move into the CWCs in the respective cities as soon as such facilities are built.
The PCN Registrar also revealed that the council has stopped a move by the National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers to commission a Drug market in Dalar Gyada In Kano contrary to the Act establishing PCN.
“In August 2024, an attempt was made to commission the market but the Director, Investigation and Enforcement (Chairman of Federal Task Force), Mohammed Shaba had meetings with several stakeholders.
“During the meeting with the State Government, a copy of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Act C34 was presented and explained in detail, in addition to the following discussion with the Chief of Staff. That the planned activity falls under the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That Pharmacy Council of Nigeria is the only regulatory body with the exclusive right to grant a licence for the operation of any facility on drugs and poisons. This means only the Federal Government can legislate on matters relating to premises and facilities on drugs and poisons. The plan to commission a new Drug Market is illegal and contradicts the separation of responsibility as enshrined in the Constitution,” he added.
