Health

Pharmacists Tackle Fake Drug Menace With New Detection Skills

Published

2 months ago

June 23, 2026

Pharmacists Tackle Fake Drug Menace With New Detection Skills

Pharmacists from the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, and Nasarawa states have intensified efforts to combat the growing menace of counterfeit medicines in Nigeria through a hands-on capacity-building workshop aimed at equipping practitioners with skills to detect and isolate suspected fake drugs before they reach patients. The workshop, titled “Test and Stock for Medicines Against Counterfeiting,” was organised by the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP), Abuja Branch, in collaboration with the Bioscientific Research Group of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, University of Uyo.

The initiative comes at a critical time, as the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 10.5% of all medicines in low- and middle-income countries are substandard or falsified, with the deaths resulting from the use of these products in malaria and childhood pneumonia alone estimated between 105,000 and 285,000 annually. The problem is particularly acute in Nigeria, where a 2022 report by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA) suggested that up to 70% of drugs in circulation are substandard or counterfeit. While NAFDAC has contested this figure, stating that between 13% and 15% of medicines are fake, the scale of the problem remains alarming. In a recent operation, NAFDAC seized over 3 billion Naira worth of counterfeit medicines, including 10 million doses of antimalarial drugs that could have endangered over three million lives.

Counterfeit medicines represent a significant threat to public health in Nigeria. Studies have shown that the country faces a severe challenge, with drug counterfeiting accounting for an increasing percentage of the global drug market. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), counterfeit medicines account for more than 10% of the world drug market. Between 2001 and 2005, Nigeria’s drug regulatory agencies reduced the circulation of counterfeit medicines from 40% to 17%, yet the issue continues to remain a major public health and socio-development burden. In 2018, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) destroyed fake foods and drugs worth over $10 million in the country. The market is highly import-dependent, sourcing 70% of its finished products from abroad and relying almost entirely on other countries for active pharmaceutical ingredients for local manufacturing, creating vulnerabilities that counterfeiters exploit.

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Speaking at the event, Prof. Sunday Awofisayo, Professor of Biopharmaceuticals and Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Uyo and principal researcher of the Bioscientific Research Group, said pharmacists must take a more active role in assuring the quality of medicines dispensed to Nigerians. He noted that pharmacists are recognised as drug experts and should be able to assure patients that medicines contain the active ingredients stated on their labels. According to him, counterfeit, falsified, and substandard medicines can lead to treatment failure, prolonged illness, organ damage, and even cancer when harmful substances are substituted for genuine ingredients. “If the quality is not there from the beginning, no matter how good the consultant or specialist is, treatment outcomes will be compromised,” he said. Awofisayo noted that the workshop was designed to refresh knowledge acquired during professional training and provide practical skills in detecting counterfeit medicines through basic laboratory procedures, including colourimetric testing and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) . Research published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice has shown that visual inspection alone can identify many deficiencies in dosage units and packaging information. All four falsified medicines detected in a recent Nigerian study were readily identifiable, primarily from serious spelling errors in labelling and from manufacturer names that could not be verified using internet resources.

Key visual deficiencies observed in counterfeit medicines include non-uniformity of dosage units, where containers have multiple different types of tablets with different embossings and thickness; discolouration of tablets, such as brown discolouration in chloroquine tablets that correlated with API content of only 81.9% compared to 100.6% in white tablets; poorly manufactured tablets with ridges, erosion, cracks, and powder formation indicating physical instability; and incomplete filling of blisters with empty compartments or half tablets, indicating insufficient quality assurance.

Also speaking, the Zonal Coordinator of WAPCP, FCT Zone, Dr. Tijani Mufutau, described counterfeit medicines as a major threat to public health, saying pharmacists have a responsibility to verify the authenticity of medicines before they are supplied to patients. He noted that fake medicines contribute to therapeutic failure, organ damage, death, and increased healthcare costs due to prolonged hospital stays and additional treatments. Workshop lead and immediate past Zonal Coordinator of WAPCP Abuja Zone, Dr. Abubakar Danraka, said the training formed part of efforts by pharmacists to complement existing strategies aimed at reducing the circulation of counterfeit medicines. He explained that the programme focused on empowering pharmacists with practical skills that can be deployed immediately without reliance on expensive laboratory equipment. Danraka noted that the high cost of sophisticated quality assessment equipment had limited medicine testing in many health institutions, adding that the initiative sought to bridge that gap. According to him, strengthening NAFDAC and other relevant institutions through increased funding and support would help scale up such interventions across the country.

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The Global Pharma Health Fund (GPHF)-Minilab is the most widely used screening device for medicine quality surveillance in low-resource settings. The analysis consists of visual inspection of packaging and dosage units, simplified disintegration testing for solid oral dosage forms, and qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of active pharmaceutical ingredients using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) . Additional training of local personnel significantly improved the results of both TLC analysis and image evaluation. Photographs of visual deficiencies and TLC analysis results have been compiled as teaching materials for future training courses of pharmacy staff and healthcare workers. A recently developed open-source smartphone application named “TLCyzer” enables photography and image analysis of TLC plates for improved quantitative evaluation of medicine quality screening. However, the application increased sensitivity to 62.5% but led to an unacceptably low specificity of 75.2%, highlighting the need for further development.

A study involving 390 pharmacists across Nigeria, published by the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), identified primary challenges in combating fake medicines in the country, including inadequate inspection (90.93% of pharmacists affirmed this as a major challenge), poor cross-border enforcement (90.43%), poor collaboration among regulatory agencies (89.94%), inadequate legislation (88.83%), and online drug commerce (72.68%). While pharmacists demonstrated good knowledge of medicine counterfeiting, gaps were observed in their practices. About one-third (30.7%) indicated their current knowledge and skills were inadequate to detect counterfeit medicines. Age, years of practice, and area of practice significantly influenced detection abilities.

Former National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Dr. Albert Alkali, described falsified medicines as one of the biggest challenges facing the country’s healthcare system. He said patients could suffer severe health complications, including kidney, liver, and heart damage, from consuming counterfeit medicines. Alkali urged Nigerians to obtain medicines only from registered pharmacies and seek professional guidance from pharmacists when purchasing drugs.

Participants at the workshop also called for stronger regulation, stricter enforcement of existing laws, and increased local pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce dependence on imported medicines and improve quality control. This call aligns with recent efforts by NAFDAC to introduce regulatory tools including the NAFDAC Green Book, an online database allowing confirmation of registered medical products, and the Pharmaceutical Products (Traceability) Regulation 2024, mandating unique identifiers for every drug in circulation. Nigeria is the first country in Africa and the second in the world to deploy this level of pharmaceutical traceability.

Also speaking, Pharm. Rahma Issa, Deputy Head of Jummai Babangida Aliyu Maternity and Neonatal Hospital, Minna, said widespread circulation of counterfeit medicines was undermining treatment outcomes and negatively affecting both household and national economies. She advocated increased support for local drug manufacturing and stronger enforcement measures against offenders. Similarly, the Head of Pharmacy at the National Hospital Abuja, Pharmacist Clara Adesola, said pharmacists attending the workshop would transfer the knowledge acquired to colleagues in their respective institutions to widen the impact of the training. She noted that drug source verification, visual inspection, and the use of NAFDAC registration checks remained important measures for reducing the risk of counterfeit medicines entering health facilities.

The fight against counterfeit medicines has received international attention, with the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) publishing a new curriculum guide in partnership with the WHO to support educators in ensuring that pharmacists are better able to prevent substandard or falsified medicines from reaching patients. These materials were developed with the support of the European Commission and in collaboration with five universities in sub-Saharan Africa, a region particularly vulnerable to counterfeit medicines. Additionally, the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) has launched a nationwide training aimed at equipping early-career scientists with the skills and knowledge to ensure medicine security, strengthen healthcare systems, and combat the proliferation of fake and substandard drugs in the country. The training, part of the World Bank–funded IMPACT Project, targets approximately 50 young scientists from across Nigerian universities.

Participants agreed that strengthening pharmacists’ capacity to identify suspicious medicines before stocking them would significantly reduce the circulation of counterfeit products and improve patient safety across the country. As training programmes expand and detection technologies improve, pharmacists remain at the forefront of protecting Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain and ensuring that patients receive safe, effective, and genuine medicines.

Pharmacists Tackle Fake Drug Menace With New Detection Skills

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Unpaid arrears: Resident doctors threaten total nationwide strike

Published

1 week ago

July 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Unpaid arrears: Resident doctors threaten total nationwide strike

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has threatened to begin a nationwide indefinite strike from August 10, 2026, if the Federal Government fails to substantially address outstanding demands concerning salary arrears, welfare and working conditions.

The association issued the fresh strike notice after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Gombe State from July 26 to July 31, where members reviewed previous agreements with the Federal Government and assessed the state of healthcare delivery across the country.

Speaking after the meeting, NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, said the association was dissatisfied with what it described as the slow pace of implementation of agreements reached with the government despite months of negotiations and repeated engagements.

Suleiman said NARD had extended its previous strike ultimatum on four occasions to give the Federal Government more time to resolve the outstanding issues. However, he said several commitments had yet to be fulfilled.

The association warned that resident doctors across Nigeria would commence a total and indefinite industrial action if the government failed to substantially address the demands before the August 10 deadline.

Among the key demands is the immediate payment of outstanding arrears linked to the 25–35 per cent CONMESS salary adjustment, as well as 19 months of unpaid professional allowance arrears, promotion arrears and outstanding salaries owed to doctors in several federal health institutions.

NARD identified several facilities where some doctors are affected by unresolved salary and welfare concerns. The institutions include the University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Okuki; Federal Medical Centre, Owo; Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife; University of Uyo Teaching Hospital; Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri; Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki; and Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi.

The association also raised concerns over the safety of doctors and other healthcare workers, citing reports of assault, harassment, intimidation and attacks on medical personnel while performing their duties.

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NARD warned that continued attacks on healthcare workers could worsen the shortage of medical personnel and further affect healthcare services, particularly in public hospitals already facing staffing and infrastructure challenges.

The association called on the Federal Government to establish a National Healthcare Workers Assault Prevention and Response Protocol and urged the National Assembly to pass legislation that would criminalise attacks on healthcare personnel and strengthen protections for health workers.

On the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund, NARD acknowledged the Federal Government’s release of the fund but insisted that resident doctors who were excluded from the initial disbursement should be identified and paid without further delay.

The association said delays in accessing the training fund could affect the professional development of resident doctors and create additional financial pressure during their medical training.

NARD also expressed concern over the welfare of house officers, citing prolonged salary delays, unpaid entitlements and challenges relating to internship placement, documentation and onboarding.

According to the association, some newly employed doctors begin work and continue for several weeks or months before receiving their first salaries, a situation it said creates financial hardship and affects morale.

The doctors further demanded the immediate conclusion and implementation of the Medical and Health Workers Collective Bargaining Agreement.

They also called for urgent measures to address excessive workload, prolonged call-duty hours and shortages of healthcare workers in public hospitals.

NARD urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to intervene in the lingering industrial dispute involving resident doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and ensure that outstanding welfare concerns are resolved.

The association also called on the Federal Government and state governments to increase investment in the health sector through improved funding, rehabilitation and expansion of healthcare facilities, modern medical equipment, reliable electricity supply and the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals.

According to NARD, stronger investment in healthcare infrastructure and human resources is necessary to improve access to quality medical services and support the implementation of universal health coverage across Nigeria.

The association also appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the Kaduna State Government and the management of affected federal tertiary health institutions to resolve outstanding salary, welfare and training issues involving resident doctors.

NARD linked many of the challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system to the increasing migration of doctors abroad in search of better pay, improved working conditions and stronger career opportunities.

The association said more than 16,000 Nigerian doctors had left the country within the last three to four years, warning that the continued loss of medical professionals could place additional pressure on the country’s healthcare system.

According to NARD, the number of doctors leaving Nigeria is now believed to be higher than the number graduating annually from the country’s medical schools.

The association warned that the continued migration of doctors, combined with inadequate recruitment, delayed payments and unresolved welfare concerns, could further increase workloads for healthcare workers who remain in the country.

NARD said it remained open to dialogue but stressed that the Federal Government must take concrete steps before August 10 to prevent a disruption of healthcare services in public hospitals nationwide.

If the strike proceeds, it could affect medical services in federal and state hospitals where resident doctors play major roles in patient care, emergency services, clinical training and the day-to-day operations of healthcare facilities.

Unpaid arrears: Resident doctors threaten total nationwide strike

Health

FG expands emergency healthcare services to 34 states

Published

1 month ago

July 9, 2026

Trends Admin

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako

FG expands emergency healthcare services to 34 states

The Federal Government (FG) has expanded the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) to 34 states, in a major push to improve emergency healthcare, strengthen intensive and critical care services, and accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across Nigeria.

The expansion was announced by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, during the opening of the 11th Annual Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Intensive and Critical Care Society of Nigeria (I-CCSN) in Abuja.

Speaking on the conference theme, “Sustainable Financing for Intensive Care in Public Hospitals in Nigeria,” Salako described emergency and intensive care as essential pillars of a resilient healthcare system, saying timely access to quality treatment saves lives, reduces preventable deaths and protects families from the devastating financial impact of critical illnesses.

According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako, the minister said the expansion of NEMSAS from its pilot phase in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to 34 states represents one of the Federal Government’s flagship health sector reforms, with efforts already underway to extend the programme to all 36 states and the FCT.

The National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) was established to provide a coordinated national emergency response by ensuring the rapid evacuation and transportation of critically ill or injured patients to appropriate healthcare facilities. The initiative supports victims of road traffic crashes, maternal emergencies, medical complications, disasters and other life-threatening situations that require urgent intervention.

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Salako said the Tinubu administration considers emergency and critical care a strategic investment in Nigeria’s healthcare system, noting that improved emergency response capacity is critical to achieving better health outcomes, strengthening national health security and reducing avoidable deaths.

He observed that delivering quality intensive care requires sustained investments in specialised infrastructure, fully equipped ambulances, intensive care units (ICUs), trauma centres, medical oxygen systems, modern diagnostic equipment, reliable electricity supply and highly trained healthcare professionals.

The minister also expressed concern over Nigeria’s continued dependence on out-of-pocket healthcare spending, warning that many households are forced into financial hardship because of the high cost of emergency treatment and intensive care.

To reduce this burden, he said the Federal Government is expanding health insurance coverage, strengthening sustainable healthcare financing and implementing reforms aimed at making emergency medical services more accessible and affordable.

According to Salako, the government is simultaneously implementing complementary programmes to improve maternal and newborn healthcare, strengthen referral systems and integrate ambulance services with intensive care units, operating theatres, rehabilitation centres and medical oxygen supply networks.

He added that lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic have prompted increased investment in medical oxygen infrastructure, with Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants already installed in several federal and state health facilities to improve oxygen availability for critically ill patients.

The minister further disclosed that the government is promoting digital health technologies, telemedicine and tele-critical care services to bridge gaps in access to specialist healthcare, particularly in underserved and rural communities.

Salako emphasised that achieving sustainable emergency healthcare requires stronger collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, healthcare institutions, professional associations, academic and research institutions, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector.

He also called for greater investment in healthcare workforce development through the training of more intensive care physicians, emergency medicine specialists, nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, anaesthetists, biomedical engineers and other specialised healthcare professionals.

The minister said these reforms align with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and other ongoing efforts to strengthen primary healthcare, emergency medical services and referral systems nationwide.

Earlier, Chairman of the Conference Local Organising Committee, Dr. Harrison Nwogu, said participants would examine the persistent underfunding of intensive care units and explore innovative financing mechanisms, including public-private partnerships (PPPs), expanded health insurance, philanthropic support and diaspora investment.

Chairman of the occasion and Chief Medical Director of Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre, Dr. Olalekan Olutesi, urged wealthy Nigerians and corporate organisations to invest more in the health sector, suggesting tax incentives to encourage greater private-sector participation in healthcare delivery.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Tamuno-Ojuemi Ogaji advocated a sustainable financing framework that guarantees access to quality intensive care regardless of a patient’s financial status.

He identified inadequate infrastructure, shortages of medical equipment and consumables, unstable electricity supply, limited intensive care beds and insufficient funding as some of the major obstacles affecting critical care delivery in Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Emir of Wase, Dr. Muhammadu Haruna, who represented the Emir of Tula, Dr. Abubakar Buba, described intensive care as a national development issue that affects every Nigerian family.

He said strengthening emergency and critical care services would improve survival rates, reduce preventable deaths and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic and social development.

The Federal Government expressed confidence that the continued expansion of NEMSAS, improved healthcare financing, stronger referral systems and sustained investments in emergency medical infrastructure would significantly improve access to life-saving care and strengthen Nigeria’s overall healthcare system.

FG expands emergency healthcare services to 34 states

Health

Tinubu approves new health technology agency to modernise Nigeria’s healthcare system

Published

1 month ago

June 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Tinubu Approves Recruitment of 3,252 Verified PTA Teachers into Federal Civil Service

Tinubu approves new health technology agency to modernise Nigeria’s healthcare system

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO), a landmark initiative aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of Nigeria’s healthcare system through innovation, data-driven decision-making and improved coordination across the health sector.

The Presidency also announced the appointment of Dr. Obi Adigwe, a respected pharmaceutical researcher and health innovation expert, as the pioneer National Coordinator of the newly created office.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the new agency would operate under the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

According to the Presidency, the NHTDAO will serve as a central coordinating platform for health technology, digital health systems and data analytics, helping to unify public and private healthcare institutions without taking over the statutory responsibilities of existing agencies.

Rather than replacing institutions already operating within the health sector, the office will strengthen collaboration among federal and state governments, healthcare providers, development partners and regulatory bodies while promoting the adoption of modern digital healthcare solutions nationwide.

The statement explained that the office would harmonise healthcare institutions, establish national interoperability standards and oversee the implementation of the National Digital Health Architecture, which was approved by the National Council on Health in November 2025.

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The initiative is expected to accelerate the deployment of electronic medical records, improve healthcare data management, strengthen disease surveillance systems and support evidence-based policymaking across Nigeria’s health sector.

Government officials believe the new office will also improve emergency response capabilities, facilitate secure information sharing among healthcare institutions and enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency in healthcare delivery.

The Presidency said the creation of the agency aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to building a secure, technology-driven and data-enabled healthcare system capable of delivering quality medical services to Nigerians under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The appointment of Dr. Obi Adigwe is expected to provide strong leadership for the initiative, given his extensive experience in pharmaceutical research, digital health innovation and healthcare policy.

Before his appointment, Adigwe served as Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), where he led several groundbreaking initiatives to strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and biomedical research capacity.

His achievements include managing a ¥300 million nanotechnology research grant, overseeing an AFREXIMBank-funded project that established Africa’s first Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Training Facility and coordinating the roadmap that secured an €18 million European Union grant to support Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry.

Adigwe also gained international recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic after leading the world’s first scientific evaluation that challenged claims surrounding the effectiveness of Madagascar’s Covid Organics herbal preparation.

To ensure effective implementation and policy coordination, the Federal Government has constituted a high-level steering committee to oversee the activities of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office.

The committee will be co-chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Olaniyi Yusuf.

Its membership also includes the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, the Special Adviser to the President on Technology and Digital Economy, the heads of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), as well as six representatives of State Commissioners of Health from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The steering committee is expected to provide strategic guidance, monitor implementation and ensure that digital health reforms are effectively integrated across the country’s healthcare ecosystem.

The establishment of the NHTDAO complements ongoing reforms under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which seeks to strengthen primary healthcare services, improve access to quality medical care, expand emergency health services and modernise healthcare infrastructure across the country.

Health policy experts say the initiative could significantly transform Nigeria’s healthcare system by improving health data management, promoting innovation, strengthening policy coordination and enabling more efficient healthcare delivery nationwide.

The Presidency expressed confidence that the new office would accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a secure, interoperable and data-driven healthcare ecosystem capable of improving health outcomes for millions of citizens.