The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is actively seeking the cooperation of all Nigerians in the ongoing battle against the proliferation of counterfeit and fake medical products.
To this end, the agency has unveiled a powerful new tool, the Greenbook verification app, designed to empower citizens in the fight for safe medications.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized the importance of this collaborative effort during the opening ceremony of a two-day sensitization and awareness workshop held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The workshop focused on the Greenbook, traceability projects, and paediatric policy, highlighting the agency’s multifaceted approach to combating substandard medicines.
Adeyeye explained that the NAFDAC Greenbook is a comprehensive online database of registered drug products in Nigeria. This resource was developed to directly address the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by counterfeiters in the production and distribution of fake medicines. The agency recognizes the need for technological solutions to counteract these advanced methods.
The workshop, as stated by Adeyeye, represented by Fraden Bitrus, Director of the Post-Marketing Surveillance Directorate, was specifically designed to foster collaboration between regulators and stakeholders. This partnership is crucial for effectively combating the spread of substandard and falsified medical products, ensuring the safety and well-being of the Nigerian population.
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The core function of the NAFDAC Greenbook is to provide a reliable method for verifying the authenticity of pharmaceutical products. By entering the product name, brand name, or registration number, users can quickly confirm whether a product is registered with NAFDAC. If a product is listed in the Greenbook, it signifies its registration and authenticity, serving as a vital tool for consumers to avoid potentially harmful fake products.
Notably, Nigeria has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first country in Africa and the second globally to implement this advanced technology. This achievement underscores NAFDAC’s commitment to innovation and its proactive approach to safeguarding public health.
Adeyeye called upon all stakeholders in the healthcare sector to actively support initiatives aimed at eradicating substandard and falsified medical products. The goal is to ensure that Nigerians have access to quality, safe, and effective medicines, promoting better health outcomes for the entire nation.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Adaeze Oreh, expressed the state’s unwavering commitment to collaborating with NAFDAC in the fight against counterfeit drugs. Oreh, represented by Quanta Dappa, commended the NAFDAC DG for her dedication to ensuring a drug-safe nation. The state has an active task force on counterfeit drugs, with NAFDAC as a key partner.
Oligbu Chukwuma, NAFDAC Director for the South-South Zone, assured that robust measures are in place to ensure state coordinators in the region are actively implementing anti-counterfeit strategies. These measures include regular state visits and monthly activity reports, all supported by evidence, demonstrating a zero-tolerance policy towards counterfeit drugs. The Greenbook app is available for download on the Apple Store and Google Play Store, accessible through the link: http://greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng.
