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Nigeria:Harsher Penalties for Peddlers of Fake Drugs
Nigeria:Harsher Penalties for Peddlers of Fake Drugs
Editorial, 24 December 2009
http://allafrica.com/stories/200912240100.html
A Chinese court recently sentenced six people to death for exporting fake drugs to Nigeria. The Director-General of the National Agency For Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, speaking at a five-day Strategic Planning Retreat for his staff in Kaduna, praised China for this tough stance, and canvassed for similar stiff sentences for all drug peddlers in Nigeria. The issue of fake drugs and those who peddle them is a long-standing one in Nigeria.
That China and, to some extent India, the two largest exporters of fake and sub-standard pharmaceutical products are becoming serious about ending, or at least reducing this unwholesome trade is a welcome development to us in Nigeria, which has sadly become the 'dumping ground' for these manufacturers of fake and substandard drugs. Equally sadly is the fact that the fight against the menace is being waged with levity, partly due to weak legislation and poor surveillance infrastructure. A pending bill in the National Assembly seeks to remedy this, and will be a welcome addition to our arsenal. This law, apart from providing stiffer jail terms, including life imprisonment for some categories of offenders, would also allow asset confiscations, proceeds from the sale of the sale of which would go to victims.
China has the world's ninth largest pharmaceutical market, and the most rapidly growing. In 2007, total output was valued at more than 86 billion dollars; its growth rate has averaged around 17 percent over the last two decades. Chinese and Indian pharmaceutical markets have experienced significant growth in recent years, fuelled by increasing wealth among their large populations, as well as accelerating global demand for cheap, effective medicines to treat ailments ranging from high cholesterol to malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. They supply most of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) used globally in making drugs. The current financial crisis, and the limited resources and tighter budgets of poorer nations may accelerate this trend.
We cannot overstate the evil consequences of fake, substandard and expired drugs on our population. Beside robbing the poor of their limited incomes, the resulting maiming and killing of innocent victims is unacceptable and must be fought using every means at our disposal, including life terms for offenders. Unfortunately, the propensity to import fake and substandard substances is now extending to other chemicals, including herbicides and pesticides used in agriculture. The impact of massive importation of even safe drugs on our industrial output, employment, utilization of local raw materials and export potential can only be imagined. When the drugs are useless and even dangerous, it becomes criminally irresponsible not to do something about it. No efforts should be spared to deal severely with unscrupulous persons who try to turn Nigeria into a global dumping ground for their deadly merchandise.
In addition, we must continue to gather and disseminate information on this national crisis. One of the problems in Nigeria, as elsewhere, is the lack of reliable information on the type and extent of substandard and counterfeit drugs in the market. Except for occasional press releases from NAFDAC, we have no idea which drugs are safe and effective, and which ones are not; and no clear, easy and reliable channels for finding out. These must be among the first priorities.
Another area of concern is the laxity of enforcement. NAFDAC should strive for more consistent, more unbiased policing. It must attract and train civil servants with the appropriate scientific and technical expertise, inculcate an ethical approach in which truth supersedes loyalty. We must also encourage our pharmaceutical enterprises to develop a culture of self-policing and clear accountability to the public. We must also strengthen local manufacturing capacity as it may be easier to effectively police such.
This is a fight we cannot afford to lose.
Editorial, 24 December 2009
http://allafrica.com/stories/200912240100.html
A Chinese court recently sentenced six people to death for exporting fake drugs to Nigeria. The Director-General of the National Agency For Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, speaking at a five-day Strategic Planning Retreat for his staff in Kaduna, praised China for this tough stance, and canvassed for similar stiff sentences for all drug peddlers in Nigeria. The issue of fake drugs and those who peddle them is a long-standing one in Nigeria.
That China and, to some extent India, the two largest exporters of fake and sub-standard pharmaceutical products are becoming serious about ending, or at least reducing this unwholesome trade is a welcome development to us in Nigeria, which has sadly become the 'dumping ground' for these manufacturers of fake and substandard drugs. Equally sadly is the fact that the fight against the menace is being waged with levity, partly due to weak legislation and poor surveillance infrastructure. A pending bill in the National Assembly seeks to remedy this, and will be a welcome addition to our arsenal. This law, apart from providing stiffer jail terms, including life imprisonment for some categories of offenders, would also allow asset confiscations, proceeds from the sale of the sale of which would go to victims.
China has the world's ninth largest pharmaceutical market, and the most rapidly growing. In 2007, total output was valued at more than 86 billion dollars; its growth rate has averaged around 17 percent over the last two decades. Chinese and Indian pharmaceutical markets have experienced significant growth in recent years, fuelled by increasing wealth among their large populations, as well as accelerating global demand for cheap, effective medicines to treat ailments ranging from high cholesterol to malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. They supply most of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) used globally in making drugs. The current financial crisis, and the limited resources and tighter budgets of poorer nations may accelerate this trend.
We cannot overstate the evil consequences of fake, substandard and expired drugs on our population. Beside robbing the poor of their limited incomes, the resulting maiming and killing of innocent victims is unacceptable and must be fought using every means at our disposal, including life terms for offenders. Unfortunately, the propensity to import fake and substandard substances is now extending to other chemicals, including herbicides and pesticides used in agriculture. The impact of massive importation of even safe drugs on our industrial output, employment, utilization of local raw materials and export potential can only be imagined. When the drugs are useless and even dangerous, it becomes criminally irresponsible not to do something about it. No efforts should be spared to deal severely with unscrupulous persons who try to turn Nigeria into a global dumping ground for their deadly merchandise.
In addition, we must continue to gather and disseminate information on this national crisis. One of the problems in Nigeria, as elsewhere, is the lack of reliable information on the type and extent of substandard and counterfeit drugs in the market. Except for occasional press releases from NAFDAC, we have no idea which drugs are safe and effective, and which ones are not; and no clear, easy and reliable channels for finding out. These must be among the first priorities.
Another area of concern is the laxity of enforcement. NAFDAC should strive for more consistent, more unbiased policing. It must attract and train civil servants with the appropriate scientific and technical expertise, inculcate an ethical approach in which truth supersedes loyalty. We must also encourage our pharmaceutical enterprises to develop a culture of self-policing and clear accountability to the public. We must also strengthen local manufacturing capacity as it may be easier to effectively police such.
This is a fight we cannot afford to lose.
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