Federal Govt to close open drug Market July 1st

               

The Federal government of Nigeria said all open drug market will be shut down July 1st,in an effort to check abuse of drugs and also to ensure organised drug distribution system in the country.The government said this was aimed at putting an end to the chaotic distribution system in the country which is dangerous to the health care delivery system.


A Presidential Committee on Pharmaceutical Sector Reform was put in place  and charged  with the responsibility to develop a strategy towards the institutionalisation of a well ordered drug distribution system in order to address the ugly situation.
The strategies adopted by the committee to achieve this include the development of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines NDDG in 2010 to provide guidance for drug distribution.

 The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Linus Awute at the weekend in Abuja said the commencement of the implementation of the guideline is July 1st.
He Said the regulatory agencies like the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and NAFDAC have been directed to ensure full compliance.

“We are hopeful that the existence of open drug markets in the country will be a thing of the past as the drug distribution system of the country has remained uncoordinated, chaotic and has resulted in the circulation of fake, adulterated, substandard and counterfeit drugs.he said