News:
September 30, 2013
Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko has urged the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to be circumspect in putting out information relating to drugs on the market that the Authority has issues it.
According to him, the mismanagement of any such information has the potential of generating unnecessary fear and panic among the public.
The MP who is also the former Chief Executive Officer of the FDA comment comes in the wake of a post market surveillance exercises conducted by the FDA which revealed that Tobinco Pharmaceuticals had imported and distributed fake and unregistered medicines onto the Ghanaian market.
The FDA is calling on people who have consumed any of the unwholesome drugs imported by the Pharmaceutical giant to report to a health facility.
But Tobinco Pharmaceuticals has stressed that its drugs that were and are being destroyed by the FDA are not fake drugs.
“What has led to the recent state of affairs with regards to registration of products with the Food and Drugs Authority is a misjudgement and delayed action on our part, and has nothing to do with the integrity of the products. A penalty imposed by the Authority in connection with the registration issues has been duly paid and further discussions are on-going.” Chief Executive emphasized.
Contributing to a discussion on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo show on Monday. Hon. Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko stated that though he is not against the mode of operation of the FDA, when it comes to such specialized products like drugs, the risk of communication must be considered so that it does not produce undesired results among the public.
“Drugs are not like tomatoes or pure water being sold, once you start raising alarm on how potentially dangerous a particular drug could be without fully ascertaining your facts about it, fear then grips the public. How can one conclude that the said drugs are counterfeit when the drugs are yet to be registered? It is only during the registration process that one can be assured of the quality of a drug’’ Hon. Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko added.
He noted a more deadly threat to public health is the sort of adverts aired on the airwaves which preaches about the efficacy of some herbal and orthodox medicine whose quality cannot be vouched for, adding that the practice must be stopped by the relevant agencies.
Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh