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Pharmacists in Lagos State Call for Coordinated Wholesale Centre to Combat Fake Drugs

As part of efforts to sanitise the drug distribution channels in Lagos State, pharmacists have urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to replicate the Coordinated Wholesale Centre established in Kano State. The pharmacists, under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, believe that setting up a CWC in Lagos would address the challenges of drug abuse and the sale of counterfeit and expired medications.

The pharmacists made the call during an event in Lagos on Wednesday to commemorate the 2024 World Pharmacists Day, themed “Pharmacists: Meeting Global Health Needs”. This year’s theme underscored the invaluable contributions of pharmacists as essential members of healthcare systems, emphasizing their key role in addressing health needs within communities.

Babayemi Oyekunle, the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of PSN, noted that a centralised wholesale centre would help regulate drug distribution and ensure traceability. He added that establishing the centre is crucial, as Lagos State has the highest population in Nigeria and should adopt global best practices.

Oyekunle also called on the Lagos State Government to implement the circulars on the consultancy cadre for pharmacists. He highlighted that all other six southwestern states have finalised the implementation of the Consultant Pharmacists Cadre, while Lagos State is the only one still in prevarication.

Tolulope Ajayi, the Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, corroborated Oyekunle’s statement, stressing the importance of patient care in healthcare delivery and advocating for a holistic approach. Ajayi called on the government to demonstrate the political will necessary to establish a CWC to regulate drug distribution, warning that the absence of such a centre would lead to the proliferation of illegal medicine stores in the country.

The pharmacists believe that a CWC in Lagos would enable them to trace every drug that enters the state, eliminating the sale of adulterated, substandard, and fake drugs. They hope that the government will take heed of their demands and implement the necessary measures to ensure the availability of genuine medications in the state.

The issue of fake drugs has been a long-standing concern in Nigeria, with many cases of drug counterfeiting reported in recent years. The establishment of a CWC in Lagos could help to address this issue and ensure that the state’s residents have access to safe and effective medications.