Worried about the negative impact of fake and substandard products on human health, stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector, have been enjoined to unite and rescue Nigerians from the menace of fake
drugs.
Making the call in Lagos, the Immediate Past President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mr. Ahmed Yakasai, said time had come for relevant stakeholders in the industry to make a positive impact in the fight against fake drugs, saying Nigerians deserved access to safe, standard, efficacious and cost-effective medicines.
Expressing his displeasure over the circulation of fake medicines in the country and why it must be confronted head-long, Yakasai said, “It really hurts to see fake or substandard and falsified products circulating in our country, maiming innocent citizens.
“And I believe with sincere heart and encouragement from you, we can confront this monster. So, together, let’s make a positive impact and rescue our people and it can be you or me as a victim. Improving safe access to essential medicines is crucial in tackling ill-health and reducing infant and maternal mortality rate, which, sadly, is very high in our country.”
Yakasai spoke during a send-off party and unveiling of Safe Medicines Foundation, organised in his honour by friends and associates.
At the well- attended event held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, recently, the former PSN President noted, “As we all know, essential medicines save lives and improve health when they are available, affordable, of assured quality and properly used.
Hence, our citizens around the nooks and crannies of Nigeria deserve access to safe, standard, efficacious and cost-effective medicines.”
Unveiling the Safe Medicines Foundation and a book on the fight against drug abuse, titled, “The Power of Advocacy”, Yakasai said the foundation aimed to become the trusted organisation that could help consumers, healthcare professionals, law enforcement agencies, policy makers and the government navigate the complex and dangerous world of substandard and fake medicines.
The Former PSN boss, who is also the Chairman of SMF, assured that the foundation would leave no stone unturned and work round the clock with all relevant stakeholders engaged in the medicines supply chain and regulators, like the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, to make sure that patients’ safety, quality medicines and healthcare were priorities for decision
makers.
“Every day, our children are killed, our pregnant women are murdered, our elders are giving up the ghost and our hardworking men and women are dying because of lack of access to safe medicines. We can do something. We will do something and with your support, we shall do something,” he
said.
In his remarks, President, Nigerian Representatives of Overseas Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, a body consisting of overseas representatives of pharmaceutical manufacturers, Mr. Femi Soremekun, urged the government to invest in healthcare in order to tackle the nation’s worrisome health indices.
