The Director General of the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has raised alarms regarding the prevalence of fake, substandard, and falsified drugs in Nigeria.
Speaking at a sensitization campaign held at the Ibadan Business School in Oyo State, she emphasized the potential health risks posed by these counterfeit products.
Prof. Adeyeye, represented by Zonal Director Roselyn Ajayi, highlighted that the presence of fake and substandard medications can have detrimental effects on users' health.
She pointed out that NAFDAC's recent surveys indicate a significant level of counterfeit products circulating in the country, necessitating urgent action to address this issue.
To combat this growing problem, NAFDAC plans to implement a series of awareness campaigns aimed at engaging various stakeholders, particularly those involved in the distribution of healthcare products.
"Our survey has shown that the prevalence of substandard and falsified products is alarmingly high," Adeyeye noted. She stressed the importance of collaboration with healthcare providers to devise effective strategies for reducing these dangerous products.
Adeyeye further explained that counterfeiters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, leveraging advancements in technology to evade detection.
During the event, Adebayo Gbadamosi, chairman of the Oyo State Association of Community Pharmacists, urged Nigerians to purchase medications only from registered pharmacists to ensure authenticity.
He advised consumers to check for specific markings on drug packaging that can help verify their legitimacy.
