Search

FDA to arrest those who sell medicines in commercial vehicles

kencitymediagh
Jun 9, 2016
2 min read

Mr. Hudu Mogtari

The Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) Mr. Hudu Mogtari says his outfit will be collaborating with the security agencies in the country to clampdown on those who engage in sale of medicines in the commercial vehicles.

According to him, FDA is alarmed about the activities of those who sell medicines in vehicles and therefore will do everything possible to deal with them.

He said such activities are criminal because it is not allowed under the laws of Ghana.

“It is not allowed under any circumstance to sell medicines in vehicles. It is against the law,” he stated.

Mr. Mogtari said his outfit took steps to deal with the issue but said they were not successful because of the modus operandi of those involved in the act, hence the need to involve the security agencies this time around.

“There have been lots of occasions where we have had to follow some of these people and apprehended some of them in vehicles. But you see what happens is that we have printed leaflets that when we go to the lorry stations we leave them behind for people to read and understand that it is not allowed by law to sell medicines.”

“When we worked with GPRTU what they ensured was that none of the itinerant medicine sellers would get onboard the vehicles at the lorry station. But these people connive with the drivers so the vehicle going to Kumasi will leave the Neoplan transport terminal and then when it gets to Achimota they get onboard. When the vehicle gets to Nsawam he or she will get down and different one gets onboard. So this is the challenge,” he added.

Mr. Mogtari disclosed this at the launching of Patient Engagement in Medicine Safety, a programme which is aimed to encourage patients to report to FDA any side effects of medicines they consume for investigations so that the manufacture could improve on it.

Mr. Hudu Mogtari unveiling an artiste impression Patient Safety Centre

Explaining the rationale behind the launching of the programme, Mr. Hudu Mogtari said several factors may contribute to side effects of any medicine.

According to him, one of factors could be that during the development stage of the medicine there was something that the researchers failed to look for, adding that it could also mean that the medicine is not good for the consumer, hence the need come out with a programme to enable them to investigate it and forward the results to the manufactures so that they improve on it.

Mr. Mogtari said his outfit will be embarking on three months education to sensitize consumers about their new programme to enable them to report their concerns to FDA.

Story by: Michael Creg Afful