FG to Shut Open Drug Market: Effective July 1

In order to ensure organised drug distribution system in the country, the federal government will on July 1 commence the implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDGs).

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Linus Awute stated this at a press conference on Friday in Abuja adding that regulatory agencies like the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and NAFDAC will on that date resume the exercise of their mandate to ensure full compliance.

He said “We are hopeful that the existence of open drug markets in the country will be a thing of the past as the drug distribution system of the country has remained uncoordinated, chaotic and has resulted in the circulation of fake, adulterated, substandard and counterfeit drugs. According to Awute, this chaotic drug distribution posed a very big challenge to the pharmaceutical sector in particular and the federal government in general, considering the negative impact the situation had on the entire healthcare delivery system of the country.

LEADERSHIP recalls that in order to address the ugly situation, the federal government established the Presidential Committee on Pharmaceutical Sector Reform and charged it among others to develop a strategy towards the institutionalisation of a well ordered drug distribution system. The strategies adopted by the committee to achieve this include the development of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines in 2010 to provide guidance for drug distribution.

Mr Awute said “The launch of the document in 2012 signalled the take-off of its implementation while the deadline was for the establishment of State Drug Distribution Centres (SDDCs) by the state governments and Mega Drug Distribution Centres (MDDSs) by the private sector was declared on 30th June, 2014. “The deadline was, however, extended to 30th June, 2015 to allow more time for the establishment of more SDDCs and MDDCs.” He explained that as the new deadline date has drown near, it was imperative to remind stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector and Nigerians so they would commence the full implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines.

He said that state governments were allowed to upgrade their medical stores to the level of SDDCs, adding that states like Jigawa, Niger, and Ekiti had already commenced the implementation of the guidelines while Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Anambra SDDCs were ready for take-off. He added that other developed MDDs structures included the Arsene Laboratory, World Wide Ventures and the Onitsha Mega Drug Distribution Centre waiting commissioning, even as the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria was supporting the establishment of ultra-logistics company with ongoing structures of the MDDCs in the six geopolitical zones of the country. (Leadership)










Culled from Ndibe blog.

BUHARI'S WIND OF CHANGE AND THE OPEN DRUG MARKET.

The politics of open drug market and our governments inability to implement the planned closure of the open drug market.

Since 2011 the federal ministry of health and other sister agencies and stakeholders have continued to work on modalities for the ultimate closure of the open drug markets all over the country. The discussion about the middle role and bulk breaking duties of the open drug market has been pitched a number of times and debated extensively. finally the decision has been made to close the open drug market but so far the challenge is timing. When and by whom. Who has the balls to take the bull by the horn. A three year weaning period was decided on to allow the traders find alternative sources of income as well as allow the government time to put the infrastructures in the form of state central pharmacy depots in place. The government has failed in financially backing this huge project as it built a few complexes beside dominant markets. These are grossly inadequate. The Jonathan Administration postponed the closure yet again from 2014 to 2015. This was a political decision not to upset the Igbos who have major stakes in the open drug market nationwide and major supporters of GEJ. However the dangers of open drug market cannot be overstated. In open drug market drugs can become toxic or lose its potency either way harming the patient.
Nigeria is glad to have a man known for his strict leadership style in the name of GMB. It is the wish of Nigerian and Medical professionals that come July 2015 the open drug market would be closed to drug sale. All eyes would be on Buhari to see how humane enough he executes this first onerous task as both the traders and patients are Nigerians who only need to be educated on the value of safety in ensuring our survival and economic development. To those who have qualms about closing the open drug market I say the sooner the healthier.

CARDIOVASCULAR PRODUCTS AND SALES PERFORMANCE IN LOCAL COMMUNITY PHARMACY SHOPS IN NIGERIA

Anti hypertensives Sales Performance in Community Pharmacy by brands

Case Study of Xteraplus Px.
A. Antihypertensives listed according to performance in the pharmacy over a two months period
    1.Teva lisinopril x 28 N 400.00 (Teva)
    2.Teva Amlodipine x 28 N 400.00 (Teva)
    3.Methyldopa x 10 N 200.00 (Hovid)
    4.Normoretic x 10 N 150.00 ( Neimeth)
    5.Gravasc 5mg x 30  N 300.00 (Grams)
    6.Ranopril 10mg x 30 N 800.00
    7.Norvasc 5mg x 30  N 3,000.00 (pfizer)
    8. Zestril 5mg x 28  N1,450 (AstraZ)
    9.Tenoric- 50 x 28 N 650.00 ( Ipca)
   10.Ramizid 5mg x 30 N 750.00 (Sandoz)

The assessment was based on patients direct request for these brands. Pharmacist input has also been subtracted. This will give manufacturers a picture of their market position from the local pharmacy perspective.

Pharm. TK.

HOW TO SPLIT A COUNTRY

Nigeria as we know it will cease to function after february 14 2014 (14/02/2014)  presidential election. What a ridiculous date for this charade of election.

P-SQUARE LOSES DAD

Mr. Okoye died on monday a source close to the family revealed. You will recall that the duo had lost their mother barely two years ago. Our heart goes with them.

PENSION FRAUDSTERS

Nigeria is a funny place. Nigerians are wonderful people there is an igbo adage that says "You dont seek in the seekers purse" or "Ransack a poor man's sack for treasures". However it is the case in our country where a syndicate of criminals call up innocent pensioners whose pensions are not regularized or harmonized and lure them with a promise of bigger harmonised pay if they will part with some amount of money to purchase a bank draft to computerize their payment. They have access to the information filled in by these pensioners so the poor old men and women are easily deceived. BEWARE OF A SAM MOMOH AND MRS EKUKU CLAIMING TO BE CALLING FROM PENSION OFFICE.

HEALTH WORKERS STRIKE

The nations health workers have once again proceeded on indefinite strike after it was clear to them that government had no intension of implementing the agreement it reached with the apex body JOHESU a couple of months ago.
As patients suffer the consequences of these incessant strike action and the attendant losses of human life and financial resources one wonders at the inability of the government to find a lasting solution to this recurrent  problem.
True health workers are not paid adequately as their counterparts in other economies but they are among the highest paid in the country. However this is not the issue but a certain clause of relativity being pushed by NMA for its members that has a House Officer's pay above that of say a Principal Pharmacist. This is a professional war and they argue posterity would not be kind to the heads of JOHESU if during their term in office such a thing was instituted. Could you fault their argument and struggle for equity not even equality. The relativity rule could be made to be fair. How this would end we can only wait and see.