NAFDAC to partner GS1 over improved pharmaceutical products

As part of fulfillment of its mandate towards the betterment of pharmaceutical products across the country, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, is collaborating with a non-profit organisation, Global Standard 1, GS 1, to improve on the efficiency, safety and visibility of supply chain of drugs in Nigeria.

This was made known by Director General, NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, at a press conference in Abuja.

Speaking on the forthcoming summit in Lagos to hold from September 17-19

The DG noted that the agency’s collaboration with GS1 is poised to through the conference, ensure the authentication of drugs from the manufacturer to the final consumers, as she added that the development would carry out tracing and tracking surveillance for safeguarding health of the population.

Also partnering with other foreign organisatios such as World Bank, Global Fund, USAID and International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, Prof. Adeyeye reiterated that addressing the current may help prevent widespread loss of lives in Africa.

According to her, World Health Organisation, WHO, estimated 1-10 medical products circulating in low and middle income countries to be either substandard or falsified, mostly in Africa which she said accounts for 42 percent of the detected cases worldwide, as well as 64,000-158,000 avoidable deaths from malaria alone.

“The GS1 Healthcare conference in Lagos will provide a unique opportunity for healthcare stakeholders to discuss how to work together across Africa to achieve better traceability of pharmaceuticals and to improve safety.

“Delegates will also hear about WHO efforts to prevent substandard and falsified medical products entering the global market, as GS 1 experts would be there to showcase its standards which will help supply chain partners, including healthcare professionals, implementing tractability and making sure that the patient receives the right medication, she said.

Also speaking was Chief Executive Officer, GS1, Mr. Tunde Odunlami,  who stated that the organisation’s partnership with NAFDAC would be geared towards revolutionising the supply chain for drugs across the country.

He said one of the unique qualies  of GS1 is the ability to connect the supply to the consumer and not just at the individual but collective levels.

Mr. Odunlami added that several standards have been put in place by the GS1 initiative such as, ‘patience safety, designed to ensure that people’s health are not tampered with during treatment.

He added that, “collaboration is the GS1’s point of approach through which we bring stakeholders to the table to draw from their general challenges, so as to chart unique standards to help them solve their problems.