Pharmacists under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have commended the National Food and Drug Administration of Nigeria (NAFDAC) and the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN) for enforcing the relocation of all value chain operators in the drug distribution channels from the Sabongari Drug Market in Kano to the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) in the city.
According to PSN President, Prof. Cyril Usifoh, the bold step by NAFDAC and PSN as the principal regulatory agencies, was the only way to redress the monumental problems in the drug distribution channels in the country.
‘’The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) commended the proactive disposition of the PCN and NAFDAC which are the principal regulatory agencies in the value chain of drug distribution in Nigeria for sealing the Sabongeri Drug Market in Kano, to enforce the relocation of all operators in this location to the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) which has been commissioned for operation in Kano since 2023,’’ a statement quoted Usifoh to have said.
“It is imperative that the PSN which was in the forefront of agitations for the approved National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG) in 2015 in collaboration with key stakeholders in the pharma industry, declare that the NDDG which incorporates the concept of CWCs for genuine pharma players currently in Open Drug Markets (ODM) has come to stay going by the Kano experience.’’
He said that PSN had been in the forefront of agitations for the approved National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG) in 2015 in collaboration with key stakeholders in the pharma industry, adding that the “NDDG which incorporates the concept of CWCs for genuine pharma players currently in Open Drug Markets (ODM) has come to stay.’’
Usifoh, who declared that ‘’PSN shall continue to emphasise the benefits inherent in PCN and NAFDAC collaborations, called on other States governments, including Lagos, Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Oyo and Borno to give speedy building plan approvals as well as other requisite logistics support which will pave way for the full construction of CWCs in the States.’’
He explained that the provision of the necessary facilities would serve as catalyst for the smooth relocation of those who presently operate in Idumota, Lagos; Headbridge, Onitsha, Anambra; Ariaria, Aba, Abia; Ogbete, Enugu; Agbeni, Ibadan, Oyo and Gamboru, Maiduguri in Borno.
Usifoh, further insisted on full implementation of the NDDG for the benefit of players in the pharma industry within the existing status.
According to him, the development calls for an expedited action on the Fake Drug Act by the National Assembly.
Speaking further on the Sabongari, Kano Drug Market relocation, Usifoh said: “The historic joint team action of Saturday, February 17, 2024 remains a watershed which we must make sustainable through the instrumentality of the federal and state task forces on fake, counterfeit drug and unwholesome foods in a well packaged and robust Act of parliament.”
