FDA wants help of security agencies to stop fake drugs

Mr Hudu Mogtari, Chief Executive Officer of Food and Drugs Authority, has called for the collaboration among the security agencies towards developing effective strategies to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of imported fake drugs.

While expressing concern about the influx of fake medicines into the country through unauthorized borders, he said a sound inter-security operation would help to protect public safety and lives and also serve as deterrent to potential offenders.

Mr Mogtari noted that the country had two legally approved entry points for drug imports­ - Kotoka International Airport and the Tema Harbour - but many manufacturing companies were sneaking in counterfeit medicines into the country from unapproved borders to the detriment of public health.

Mr Mogtari expressed his concern in Accra at a training workshop on the Analytical Method Validation Protocol and Report, Product Labeling, and Variations Filing, for local pharmaceutical companies.

He said the Authority had meanwhile instituted measures to curb counterfeit medicines on the market but needed the support of the security agencies to be totally successful.

Mr Mogtari said their officers were also conducting post- market surveillance to find out whether the products on the market were the same as those certified or not by the Authority to prevent any counterfeit products.

He explained that the workshop was to educate the players in the pharmaceutical industry on how to put together documentations needed for the registration of their products in the three areas to ensure that products on the markets did meet the required international standards.

The training would lead to the competitiveness of local pharmaceuticals companies in the supply of quality safe and efficacious products for use in the health delivery system.

He said participants were expected to understand the method of documentation to develop high quality products intended for registration to be put on both the Ghanaian and the international markets.

Mr Mogtari said the benefits of the training was that if the companies adhered to the specifications of the Authority through effective documentation, it would reduce the time spent by their officers in evaluating their products as well as ensure a quick registration process.