Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), has raised the alarm over the prevalence of fake drugs in circulation in Nigerian markets.
This is as the association claimed that no fewer than 50 per cent of drugs in circulation are fake and substandard drugs.
This was contained in a statement by the ACPN National Chairman, Pharmacist Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh. He made this disclosure ahead of the 44th annual national conference of the association.
According to Ezeh, the influx of fake drugs, foods and drinks had become a major source of worry in contemporary times in the country.
He lamented that as of present, over 50% of drugs that were in circulation across the country were fake and substandard.
The ACPN National Chairman explained that fake drugs have negative effects on the individuals, groups and the society at large.
According to him, apart from the dangers that Nigerians were familiar with in the case of fake drugs, the fake drink conundrum was assuming another dimension. This, he said, is championed by modern-day merchants of death.
Going forward, Ezeh advised the National Assembly to, as a matter of urgency, amend the existing fake drug and unwholesome food Act.
He added that this will help to tackle the menace.
“Our usually reliable and dependable research-based efforts indicate that we are back to the days of over 50% of drugs in circulation being fake. And substandard as against official figures hovering between 13% and 15%,” Eze said.