The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has raised an alarm over the widespread circulation of counterfeit drugs in the country, disclosing that over 50% of medicines in Nigerian markets are fake or substandard.
National Chairman of the ACPN, Dr. Albert Kelong Alkali, made this known during a public health dialogue held in Abuja, calling the situation “a ticking time bomb” threatening the nation’s health security. He emphasized that the influx of fake drugs undermines the integrity of the healthcare system, puts patients’ lives at risk, and damages the reputation of ethical pharmacists nationwide.
Dr. Alkali attributed the disturbing trend to weak regulatory enforcement, porous borders, and the proliferation of unregistered medicine outlets, especially in rural and underserved areas. He called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), and other relevant authorities to urgently step up surveillance and sanctions against perpetrators.
He also urged the federal government to invest in drug authentication technologies, and to support local pharmaceutical manufacturers to reduce dependence on imported medications, which often create loopholes for fake drug syndicates to exploit.
Follow us on all social media platforms @dailyquery for news and analyses around the globe.
