NAFDAC unveils tools to check fake drugs in N’East

To combat counterfeit drugs in the northeastern region of Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has introduced cutting-edge mobile technologies. Stakeholders from different healthcare sectors were introduced to the "Scan 2 Verify" and "Green Book App" tools, which are intended to authenticate medications and guarantee public safety, during a two-day sensitization workshop in Gombe.

NAFDAC's Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, assured participants during her speech on Wednesday that all medications registered with NAFDAC are safe and only accessible through authorized channels. Adeyeye was accompanied by Bitrus Fraden, Director of Post-Marketing Surveillance.

Adeyeye went on to say that the Green Book App functions as an online database of certified medications that have been authorized by the organization. According to Adeyeye, "any product not listed is deemed counterfeit, and users can quickly verify a drug's authenticity.".

Targeting important stakeholders such as pharmaceutical suppliers, physicians, and other healthcare workers, the workshop emphasized the necessity of implementing the technologies to guarantee that only authentic medications are delivered to customers.

Dealers of patent medications and store owners were among the participants who commended NAFDAC for the prompt initiative. Workshop attendees Yakubu Yusuf and Hauwa Musa characterized the training as a major step in addressing the problems associated with counterfeit medications.

Reiterating its dedication to public health and safety, NAFDAC also highlighted its continuous efforts to close down markets for fake drugs in Lagos, Onitsha, and other regions of the nation. The organization emphasized the value of raising public awareness in the battle against counterfeit medications, advising people to check medications before taking them and to make educated health decisions.