The Acting Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs Yetunde Oni on Tuesday in Ibadan disclosed that the most important way through which quality medicine can be available in Nigeria is to ensure good manufacturing practice for the production of medicines and other pharmaceutical products.
The NAFDAC Boss made this known during the third plenary session of the International Conference on the theme: Improving Access to Quality Medicines through Appropriate Legislations and Policies organised by the Centre for Drug Discovery, Development and Production (CDDDP), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan.
Mrs Oni who was represented by the Director of EER, Dr Monica Emujeze, in her presentation titled ‘Good Manufacturing Practice: An Important Aspect to Achieving Quality Medicine’ explained that Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) ensures that pharmaceutical products are consistently produced and controlled to ensure quality products.
While stating that quality assurance among other factors are critical aspects of GMP, the NAFDAC Acting DG noted that quality medicines require quality culture. She further stressed the importance of quality medicine to the development of Nigeria’s health sector,
Mrs Oni therefore, encouraged medicine manufacturers to produce quality drugs, adding that quality assurance is the collective responsibilities of all Nigerians. “Ensuring the production of quality medicines is the duty of everyone in the country not just NAFDAC. So, we should collaborate to stamp out substandard drugs form our country,” she said.
