By Sola Ogundipe
PHARMACISTS under the auspices of the Lagos State branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have raised alarm over the increasing number of fake drug markets in the country. They have also criticised attempts to centralise the battle against activities of drug fakers in the country under the proposed Draft Bill on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2010.

They say their concern is born out of moves to utilise the Bill to .do away with the existing State platforms to fight drug fakers, leaving the stage entirely for the Federal Task Force which they allege has not been effective in stemming the tide of fake drugs nationwide.

Chairman of the branch, Pharm Lanre Familusi noted in a statement that from just four in 1988, fake drug markets had risen to over 25 in 2010 nationwide.

He said since the Federal Task Force came into being 22 years ago, its activities has been limited to Lagos, Onitsha, Aba and a few strategic state capitals as a result of which it had been unable to permanently dislodge any major drug market in the indicated cities.

“On the other hand, State Task Forces such as the Lagos State Task Force on fake drugs have been on active in the last 10 years with periodic surveillance which has led to the permanent dismantling of drug markets in Oniwaya and Balogun and Boundary areas on Lagos.

Describing the attempt to centralise the fake drug task force as “yet another act of over-centralisation which never augurs well in the war against merchants of death”, Familusi argued that “it is not possible for one Committee to comb the 36 States and 774 Local Government Areas effectively in the fight against fake drugs.”

He backed his argument with a rendition of the experiences of Nigerians with PHCN and NITEL to confirm that central templates are never effective in the country.

On appointment of a leader of the Federal Committee, Vice President of the PSN and one-time Chairman of the Lagos PSN, Pharm Olumide Akintayo said only registered pharmacists could be appointed drug inspectors. He posited that it was more appropriate for the Director of Enforcement of NAFDAC to be appointed Chairman of the National Task Force Committee, rather than the NAFDAC Director General as was being proposed.

Akintayo also frowned on a provision of the Draft Bill advocating a fine or jail term for persons who fail to issue written receipts for drugs sold in pharmacy outlets. He described the move as diversionary and urged those responsible to stop chasing shadows.