CACCP, Pharmaceutical coys want collaboration to stop counterfeit pharmaceutical products

The Coalition Against Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Products (CACPP) says it wants collaborations with relevant stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry to fight against counterfeit pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.

This is in alliance with Nigerian Representatives of Overseas Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (NiroPharm) and Pfizer.

At the inaugural forum of the CACPP in Lagos, the convener, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, said the coalition was borne out of the desire to take a firmer stand against counterfeit pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.

According to him, this will be through engagement and advocacy, with hope to kick off an intense national advocacy campaign against counterfeit pharmaceutical products.”

Also, Olayinka Subair, West Africa Country Manager at Pfizer, said: “Counterfeit medicines don’t cure any disease, rather they put patients’ health at risk because of their contents.

“It ultimately impedes the Nigerian Healthcare System. Lives are lost and medical conditions worsened due to this cankerworm. It is not an individual’s battle; it requires collective effort’’.

He said that Nigerians need to champion the anti-counterfeit cause, especially as regards healthcare.

“We need to join hands together because there is no shortcut with health.

“Due process must be followed to get the best results. Unlike commodities, fake drugs are life-threatening.

“This means patients should only buy prescribed medicines from accredited pharmacies and not quacks or roadside vendors.”

Femi Soremekun, President, NIROPHARM, said: “In recent years, the fight against counterfeit pharmaceutical products has taken new dimensions due to the global influx of counterfeiting syndicates.

“It is like a race against time for pharmaceutical companies – the cost to our collective health and economies is enormous.

“Over the years, pharmaceutical companies are perplexed as to how best to nip the challenges in the bud. The challenges are overwhelming owing to the sophistication of the activities of counterfeiters.

“Combating counterfeit pharmaceutical products is a herculean task, one that requires strong collaborations between government agencies and key stakeholders because of the impact.”

Also, Kingsley Ejiofor, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement of Products, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) asserted the need for general collaboration in order to effectively fight drug counterfeiting.

Ejiofor, represented by Mrs Florence Uba, Deputy Director, Federal Taskforce for Counterfeit and Substandard Regulated Products, NAFDAC, said: “The issue of drug counterfeiting is for all and sundry to address.

“Everybody is involved because everybody takes drugs; NAFDAC alone cannot fight fake drugs.

“We need you (the media) and we need the public to assist us by reporting fake drugs.’’

She advised the general public to verify the genuineness of the pharmaceutical products they use, especially drugs, and to avoid patronising quacks.

According to her, NAFDAC has some initiatives in place to help the public ascertain drug authenticity and certificate, but she regretted that people do not adhere to the directives,

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that for most African Nations, combating counterfeit pharmaceutical products is even more challenging due to the lack of synergy between key stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry and government agencies.

CACCP in an earlier statement said that to combat the illicit trade of counterfeit pharmaceutical products, there was a strong need for collaboration whereby stakeholders must look beyond the surface , looking at root causes such as patent.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in a recent study titled “Trade in Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Products” highlighted that the dire consequences of counterfeit pharmaceutical products to the economy and for citizens.

“Trade in counterfeit goods not only damages economic growth but also undermines good governance, the rule of law and citizens’ trust in government, and can ultimately threaten political stability.

“In addition, in some cases, such as that of fake pharmaceuticals, counterfeit goods can have serious health and safety implications for citizens. ”