National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control and Nigerian Association of Patent and Propriety Medicine Dealers have disagreed on the supply of drugs to patent medicine dealers in Niger Street and Sabon Gari market, Kano State.
NAFDAC in conjunction with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) had urged drug distributors to stop the supply drugs to the two areas in Kano to curb the rising cases of imitation drugs in circulation.
This was based on a judgment of the Court of Appeal on Friday, which ordered the medicines merchant to immediately vacate the Sabon Gari Market and relocate to the Coordinated Wholesale Centre, Dangwauro in Kano.
Reacting to the judgement, members of the Nigerian Association of Patent and Propriety Medicine Dealers, NAPPMED
in Sabon Gari Market shut down operations on Saturday and embarked on an indefinite strike.
“Please recall the last judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal ordering Kano medicine dealers to vacate Niger Street/Sabon Gari Market and to relocate to the Coordinated Wholesale Centre at Dangwauro, Kano,” said a circular sent to drugs distributors by NAFDAC.
“NAFDAC and PCN hereby warn manufacturers, importers, company representatives, and all distributors to from this very moment cease supplying, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other regulated medical products to facilities or companies in Niger Street, Sabon Gari Market, or elsewhere outside the Coordinated Wholesale Centre in Dangwauro, Kano State.
“This is to ensure good distribution of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, etc., and prevent circulation of substandard and falsified medicines in the market.
“Any company found doing this risks losing the site license as well as the product license.
“Retailers, hospitals and others should also take note.”