Public warned against sale of substandard drugs

The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) on Monday warned that there is illegal sale of substandard drugs without labels packed in transparent polythene at some parts in Accra.

The drugs were identified as Chloramphenicol capsules, Oxeytetracycline capsules and Penicillin capsules which were said to be sold by hangers-on, popularly known as "I get am boys".

The warning was contained in a statement signed by Mr E. K. Agyarko, Chief Executive of the Food and Drugs Board. He said analysis at the Board's Quality Control Laboratory indicates that the products were substandard containing less than 20 percent of the declared content.

The Board therefore, requested all Pharmacies and Chemical Shops who per chance have procured any of the said drugs to immediately return them to the Board for destruction.

All persons who have in their possession any pharmaceutical production machinery (tabelting and capsulting machines) but have not as yet registered as pharmaceutical manufacturers to declare them to the Board within one week.

The Board said such actions were a very serious breach of the law and ethical standards in pharmaceutical industry and therefore, called on the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association in Ghana and the Pharmacy Business Executive's Association (PBEA) to report any such infraction to the Board.

It assured the public that the Board would do whatever was in its power and in collaboration with other agencies of state, to investigate the matter thoroughly to bring any perpetrators to book.