NAFDAC UNVEILS NEW TECHNOLOGY TO COMBAT COUNTERFEIT MEDICAL PRODUCTS
Yesterday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) sensitised stakeholders on detecting substandard and falsified medical products in the North-west Zone.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, stated that the agency introduced GreenBook, Traceability Project, and Pediatric Policy to combat counterfeit medical products.
Mrs Adeyeye, who was represented by Bitrus Fraden, NAFDAC’s Director of Post-Marketing Surveillance, expressed that GreenBook serves as a tool to help consumers identify and avoid potentially fake or substandard products. She revealed that with the technology, stakeholders can detect and prevent the entry of fake products into the supply chain.
Mrs Adeyeye added that the workshop aimed to provide information, raise awareness of healthcare givers, manufacturers, and wholesalers, among others and offer training on the three new technologies to detect fake products.
According to her, NAFDAC has over the years, deployed various measures to combat substandard and fake products, including consumer safety publications, publication of counterfeit products in newspapers, TV programmes and social media handles.
She called on all stakeholders in the healthcare sector to support the initiatives to combat fake products and ensure Nigerians have access to quality, safe, and effective medical products. The Director of the North-west Zone, Fraden Mullah, also noted that the zone is challenged with fake and counterfeit products, particularly in Kano, making it difficult to identify and categorise them as substandard.
Mullah stated that the agency has the power to prosecute anyone found guilty, depending on the offence. According to him, punishments will range from closure and seizure to revoking certificates.
The Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service Representative, Tope Balogun, also highlighted the importance of voluntary blood donation, stating that there are strict processes in blood transfusion, aiming to ensure the safety of both donors and recipients.
