The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is to establish mobile courts to try drug hawkers, a statement said.
A statement issued by the Zonal Public Relations officer of NAFDAC, Mr. Cyril Monye, in Port Harcourt on Friday, stated that the director-general of the agency, Dr. Paul
Orhii, disclosed the plan to newly appointed NAFDAC local government desk officers in Edo State.
Orhii said proliferation of counterfeit and fake drugs would be checked by summary trial of culprits and added that NAFDAC would collaborate with state governments to execute the plan.
“This meeting is intended to solicit your collaboration in communicating information to rural dwellers on the ill effects of fake drugs and drug hawking,” Orhii said.
He urged the desk officers to help to monitor and control illegal advertisement of herbal medicines.
Orhii said that the sustained war against fake and counterfeit drugs had led to the increase in production capacity of local pharmaceutical companies and a drop in circulation of counterfeit drugs.
According to him, the agency has collaborated with local and international agencies to combat fake and counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.
He identified inadequate funding, inadequate legislation, chaotic drug distribution and the dearth of staff as some of the challenges facing NAFDAC.
?The coordinator of NAFDAC in the tate, Mr. David West, urged the desk officers to notify the agency about the circulation of unwholesome products. ( NAN)
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