E/R: FDA Intensifies Campaign against substandard, fake medicine in Koforidua

The Food and Drugs Authority in the Eastern region on Thursday, 31st August, 2023, embarked on public education at Kumasi lorry station in Koforidua aimed at combating substandard and falsified medicines in the region.

The advocacy campaign called “Promoting The Quality Medicines Plus (PQM+) Program” is also aimed at Educating and encouraging the public on the need for consumers to buy approved medicines from authorized facilities to avoid purchasing fake products from the market.

Addressing a mini durbar at the station, the Eastern regional Head for FDA, Madam Anita Owusu Kuffour said, the Goal of the campaign was to increase medicine safety among the target audience, Enhance awareness and advocacy among identified stakeholders and advocates on medicine safety in the regional capital.

To this end, Anita Owusu Kuffour has urged the public to avoid purchasing drugs from the roadside but rather engage the over-the-counter chemical Sellers (OTCs) and pharmacy shops for their safety.

The Regional Manager said studies over the years have shown that substandard and falsified medicines continued to be the bane of the developing world and Ghana was no exception.

She told Kaakyire Kwasi Afari a uniquenewsgh news reporter in a sideline interview that the dangers of substandard and falsified medicines also called “counterfeit medicines” in the region cannot be kept under the carpet.

Anita Owusu Kuffour revealed that both foreign and herbal products failed to meet either their quality standards or specifications or both, while falsified medical products are those products that are deliberately or fraudulently misrepresented in their identity, composition, or source.

She said, that as part of the Food and Drugs Authority’s activities to flash out counterfeit medical sellers from the market, they have developed and distributed printed posters and leaflets with visually appealing images to grab attention and effectively convey key messages.

Again, training for the management of transport terminals, drivers, and coach assistants to become advocates of medicine safety within their respective work environments is in force.

The regional manager said, that since the FDA supports the production of herbal medicines, she noted that it’s important for herbal practitioners to seek FDA approval for the product to avoid being arrested.

Herbal practitioner, Mr. Samuel Kwadwo Antwi raised concerns about the strict rules and regulations for herbal drugs, adding that, local manufacturers are struggling to be in business due to the rising inflation rate, registration fees, and lack of marketplaces to sell their products.

However, Mr. Samuel Antwi commended the FDA regional manager and her team for enhancing public awareness in a quest to combat substandard drugs.

An executive member for Koforidua to Kumasi GPRTU, Mr. Kwame Agyare said going forward, herbal practitioners who engage passengers for their drugs at the station will be engaged to regulate their activities.

By Kaakyire Kwasi Afari/uniquenewsgh.com