NAFDAC AND ITS STRUCTURAL DEFECTS IN NIGERIA, 1993-2002

Abstract

The need to explain the administrative structures, roles and challenges of NAFDAC in the discharge of their legitimate duties of check-making fake drugs in Nigeria is what informed the writing of this article. NAFDAC was established as a respond to the resolution of the World Health Assembly organized by the World Health Organization in 1988 which insisted that countries should initiate programs for the prevention and detection of fake counterfeit drugs and pharmaceutical products and nip in the bud the dangers it posed to global health. To this end, Nigeria established a body known as the Directorate of Food and Drug Administration and Control (FDAC) under the Federal Ministry of Health which was limited in its activities by so many factors including bureaucratic bottle neck etc. The death of children in 1989 due to formulation error in a drug led to the establishment of NAFDAC through decree No 15 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1993, as amended through NAFDAC Act No 1 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. The article also highlighted the challenges faced by the body such as corruption, conflict of interests, inadequate legislations, weak and discriminatory regulation, inadequate cooperation among government agencies, false declaration of goods and products, sophistication in clandestine drugs manufacturing, demand exceeding supply and high prices of medicine. All these are some of the challenges faced by NAFDAC in the discharge of her duties. The negative effects of fake drugs and what to be done to strengthen the activities of NAFDAC to make it more effective and efficient is suggested.