By Emmanuel Kwada
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has raised alarm bells about the prevalence of fake and substandard drugs in the country, estimating that over 50% of medicines in circulation are counterfeit. This figure is significantly higher than the official estimates of 13% to 15%.
According to ACPN National Chairman, Mr. Ezeh Igwekamma, research-based efforts indicate that more than half of the drugs in circulation are fake or substandard, posing a serious threat to public health.
Historical data supports this claim, with a 1988 study by the Federal Ministry of Health and WHO finding that 33% of drugs in circulation were fake, resulting in fatal outcomes in 7% of cases. A decade later, a review by the University of Lagos’s Faculty of Pharmacy found nearly 50% of fake drugs were traced to Open Drug Markets, with 12.8% of cases leading to death.
A decade later, a review by the University of Lagos’s Faculty of Pharmacy found nearly 50% of fake drugs
The ACPN is urging the government to take further action to regulate the industry and amend the Fake Drug Act to give it real teeth against the growing fake drug and fake drink trade, described as a “multi-billion-naira death industry”.
The association commends recent collaborations between NAFDAC and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) in sealing the Sabon-Geri drug market but emphasizes the need for more stringent measures.
The prevalence of counterfeit drugs undermines trust in medical treatment, places immense pressure on healthcare professionals, and risks severe health complications, ineffective treatments, or even fatalities. With Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system, the situation demands immediate attention and action.
NAFDAC has stepped up enforcement, with recent operations resulting in the seizure and destruction of counterfeit drugs worth ₦100 trillion.
However, the agency acknowledges the need for stronger legal frameworks, innovative tracking technologies, and improved inter-agency collaboration to combat the crisis effectively.
