Federal Ministry of Health has directed the
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to
ban with immediate effect further issuance of permits for the
importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough
preparations.
PoliticsNGR learned that the Minister of Health,
Professor Isaac Adewole made this known in his office in Abuja on
Tuesday, May 1, 2018.
He said that the directive became necessary due to the gross abuse Codeine usage has been subjected to in the country.
In
its stead, the Minister said Codeine containing cough syrups should be
replaced with dextromethorphan which is less addictive.
He also
directed the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, (PCN) and NAFDAC to
supervise the recall for labelling and audit trailing of all codeine
containing cough syrups in the country, while he has also banned sales
of Codeine containing cough syrup without prescription across the
country.
He noted that the National Agency for Food and Drug
administration and Control had an emergency meeting with the
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group (PMGMAN) to inform them that there is
an embargo on all new applications for registration of codeine-
containing cough syrups as well as applications for renewal has been
abolished.
The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has been
directed to continue enforcement activities on Pharmacies, Patent and
Proprietary Medicine Vendor’s Shops and outlets throughout the country.
The
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control [NAFDAC]
was also directed to fully carry out its functions among others: to
regulate and control the manufacturing, distribution and sale of drugs,
including inspection at points of entry of drugs, drug products and food
for compliance with the new directive.
The Minister stated that
the FMOH shall ensure collaboration among regulatory agencies namely,
NAFDAC, PCN, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nursing and
Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), for effective implementation of
extant Acts, regulations, policies and guidelines on codeine control and
usage.
‘Furthermore, these agencies shall work together to
increase pharmacovigilance around codeine, tramadol and other related
substances of abuse,’ Adewole stated.
Already, NAFDAC has
developed IEC materials that will be used in an already planned national
campaign against drug abuse, an awareness programme thatincludes Young
Pharmacists Group of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria. This will
soon be flagged off in Kano and Lagos.
As a way of discouraging
youths to shun the drugs, the Federal Government through Federal
Ministry of Health shall partner with National Orientation Agency (NOA),
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Football celebrities, members of the
Actors Guild of Nigeria, Performing Musicians of Nigeria and other
celebrities to drive national campaign against drug abuse.
‘The
FMOH shall ensure that Drug treatment intervention for victims of
substances abuse shall be undertaken across the spectrum of health care
delivery system in the country,’ Adewole stated.
He stated that
Civil Society Organizations shall be strengthened to deliver effective
sensitization, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services.
Recalled
that in view of the serious public health concerns drugs abuse poses to
Nigerians , a working group which comprised of experts from various
Ministries, Agencies of Government (including regulatory agencies),
Development Partners and Associations was constituted in January and
tagged Codeine Control and other Related Matters Working Group (CCRWG).
The
CCRWG was formally inaugurated on January 23, 2018 with clear Terms of
Reference of developing key recommendations and strategies to address
the menace of codeine, tramadol and other related substances in Nigeria.
The
CCRWG submitted its interim report on April 12, 2018 and recommended
short-, medium- and long-term measures for implementation in a
memorandum submitted to the Minister, today, 1st of May 2018.
Finally,
Professor Adewole restated the commitment of FGN to ensure the full
implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guideline (NDDG) by
January 01, 2019 and closure of all open drug markets penultimate the
implementation date of the NDDG that is, December 31, 2018. It is a
public knowledge that easy access to codeine, tramadol and other
substances of abuse is promoted by the chaotic drug distribution system.