The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has trained patent and proprietary medicine dealers on how to identify, avoid, and report suspicious, substandard, and unregistered medicines.
Dr. Festus Ukadike, NAFDAC’s South-East Zonal Director, said the capacity-building workshop held on Wednesday in Enugu was part of the agency’s Stakeholders’ Sensitization programme for members of the National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED).
Ukadike emphasized that medicine dealers are often the first point of contact for Nigerians, particularly in rural areas, making their role critical in ensuring access to safe and high-quality healthcare products.
He added that NAFDAC, which recently maintained a WHO Maturity Level 3 rating, is committed to ensuring that only efficacious and quality products reach consumers. Dealers were urged to strictly adhere to regulations and prioritize patient safety over monetary gain.
Chief Oliver Ezemba, Chairman of NAPPMED Section A, commended NAFDAC for the training and called for more workshops to further build the knowledge and capacity of members.
Similarly, Mr. Chuks Osuji, Chairman of Section B, assured that his association would enforce zero tolerance for fake, substandard, and unregistered medicines while partnering with NAFDAC to maintain compliance.
The programme, according to reporters, included presentations on post-market surveillance, proper medicine storage and distribution practices, and NAFDAC’s e-registration platform (NAPAMS)
