Despite efforts to combat unscrupulous and fraudulent manufacturers of substandard medical products, these activities persist and continue to wreak havoc in the health sector of Nigeria.
Lending its support to these efforts, the AGA-Africa Programme collaborated with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) on a highly engaging ‘Combatting Menace of Substandard and Falsified Medical Products’ workshop held on 26th-27th April, 2023 in Abuja, Nigeria.
The workshop brought together participants from the National Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, health workers, regulators, prosecutors, judges as well as national, regional and international subject matter experts from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and the United States.
The workshop was aimed at creating awareness as well as equipping participants with knowledge and expertise required to enhance the process of combating the activities of unscrupulous manufacturers who endanger human lives with substandard products in Nigeria.
Ebelechukwu Enedah, AGA-Africa Programme Country Coordinator for Nigeria kicked off the workshop as Pharm. Babashehu Ahmed, Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria(PCN) gave opening remarks.
Professor Cyril Usifoh, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria delivered the keynote address.
The illuminating sessions were facilitated by Daphney Mokagdi Fafudi, Regulatory Compliance Manager, South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, Pharm. Wale Oladigbolu, National Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Pharm. Aisha Isyaku, Director, Ama Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Limited Kaduna, Brian McMath, Division Director, Consumer and Environmental Protection, New Mexico Attorney General Office, Professor Margaret Ikomuyanya, Associate Professor, Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceuticals Technology, University of Lagos, William Agbavitor, Acting Head of Legal Services Department, Food and Drugs Authority, Vigil Prah-Ashun, Director of the Enforcement Directorate, Food and Drugs Authority and Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
At the closing, Ebelechukwu Enedah thanked the participants for their attendance and participation.
Workshop Outcomes
Through this workshop the participants:
- Were equipped with the expertise required to enhance the process of combating the activities of unscrupulous manufacturers.
- Enhanced their understanding on the various issues surrounding the prevalence and economic burden of substandard and falsified medical products in the health sector in Nigeria.
- Gained an understanding on the regulatory frameworks for monitoring and controlling substandard and falsified products in the health sector.
