ACPN calls for policy on drug prescription, dispensing

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), has called for a strategic policy on prescribing and dispensing of medicines to grow local brands.

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The National Chairman of the association, Mr Adewale Oladigbolu, made the call on Monday in Lagos.

Oladigbolu appealed to physicians to prescribe medicine in their generic name instead of brands.

“Why should physicians be prescribing Augmentin when we know that there are hundreds of similar products with the same efficacy available in the market registered by NAFDAC.

“If a physician writes Amoxicillin clavulanate capsule which is the generic name for Augmentin, the pharmacist can prescribe any available drug in the category,” he said.

According to him, Augmentin currently cost about N25,000 due to the exit of its producer from the country, whereas similar products sell for N2,500, but they perform exact function.

On the exit of pharmaceutical companies and its impact on drug, both in price and availability, Oladigbolu advised companies to give prior notice to NAFDAC.

He noted that regulations are in place to ensure that companies that intend to exit notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to protect shareholders.

According to him, similar regulations should be introduced and implemented through NAFDAC to ensure medicine availability and protect patient’s safety.

“The company must file an exit application with NAFDAC indicating details of the products being manufactured, and state how to sustain the availability of such products in the market,” he said.

Oladigbolu noted that the application would enable NAFDAC to identify the sensitive products, numbers of patients on it and engage stakeholders on alternatives which might include local production or importation.

He noted that the current open drug distribution market operated in the country was leading to proliferation of counterfeit medicines, treatment failures, increased morbidity and mortality, among citizens.

He said that the open drug market and stifling operating environment is affecting the survival of pharmaceutical companies leading to the increasing exit from the country.

The ACPN national chairman appealed to the Federal Government to improve the economic situation to enable businesses thrive.

Oladigbolu also urged government to remove the import duty on medicine and pharmaceutical raw materials to enhance access to medicine.