Fight Against Counterfeit Drugs: Food and Drugs Administration REFORMS.

0. 
   Problem: In 2003, 80% of the drugs on sale in Lagos were counterfeit. Generally, 41% of all
   the drugs in the Nigerian market were fake or substandard.
   
   Reform Actions:
   - Restructuring and reorganisation of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
   - Improving NAFDAC operations
   - Engaging Stakeholders and sensitising them on the dangers of fake drugs.
   - Enforcing Discipline, including naming and shaming offenders.

• Main Achievements: The reforms have made significant progress in the fight against counterfeit drugs. First, the incidence of counterfeit and substandard drugs has reduced from 41% in 2003 to less than 10% in 2013. Secondly, National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was rated by the polling company NOI Polls as the most effective government agency in Nigeria for three years in a row, 2007, 2008, and 2009. Thirdly, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime rated Nigeria as West Africa’s most effective drug control country and commended the work of NAFDAC.
  World Health Organisation’s. Lastly in 2013, Nigeria obtained the ISO 17025 accreditation for two of NAFDAC’s laboratories.
  
  Key Challenges: 
  (a) abuse of off-the-shelf medication, such as Benylin and codeine; 
  (b) weak regulation of herb-infused alcoholic drinks known as ‘paraga’ or ‘sepe’; and 
  (c) decline in the frequency of unannounced raids on pharmacies in the last few years. 
  
  
  Reference:  Public Service Reforms in Nigeria (1999-2014) - A Comprehensive Review
  
  Click to view Compendium