Brief By Professor Mojisola Christiana Adeyeye At The Launching Of The Nigeria Pharmaceutical Traceability Strategy And Inauguration Of The Steering Committee For The Implementation Of The Traceability Strategy

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Brief By Prof. Adeyeye C. M

Director General NAFDAC

Nigeria Pharmaceutical Traceability Strategy And Inauguration Of The Steering Committee For The Implementation Of The Traceability Strategy

Ministry’s Conference Room, 6th Floor FMOH, Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja

8^th October 2020.

Protocol…., The Honourable Minister for Health, Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. Safeguarding the health of the Nation is a daunting task in the face of the chaotic drug distribution system currently existing in Nigeria. The falsification and diversion of health commodities carry very serious health and economic consequences. The consideration of these consequences vis-à-vis the mandate of NAFDAC to regulate and control among other things, the distribution of drugs and other regulated products is sufficient motivation to adopt and implement strategies that can assist in the fight against menace of substandard and falsified medicines, and improve the regulatory control of the medicines supply chain in Nigeria.
2. In September 2019, NAFDAC hosted the largest gathering of African medicines regulatory authorities ever assembled to promote medicines traceability using global standards. With support from the World Bank’s Global Steering Committee for Quality Assurance and an historic Call to Action, some 25 African countries and six (6) health financing and donor organizations declared their commitment to implement GS1 traceability standards to help achieve greater supply chain integrity and fight fake medicines in their respective countries.
3. The Nigeria Pharmaceutical Traceability Strategy launched today presents NAFDAC’s priority objectives that guided the development of a comprehensive operational plan and, contributes to strengthening the existing regulatory and legal frameworks required to publish and enforce a Traceability Regulation and related guidelines. The launching of this strategy document is the first step in positioning Nigeria to be a leader in driving traceability of pharmaceuticals in Africa.
4. NAFDAC is committed to the implementation of pharmaceutical traceability in Nigeria as part of the regulatory strengthening and underscoring of its mandate. NAFDAC has developed a 5-Year Traceability Implementation plan in line with the objectives of the Nigeria Pharmaceutical Traceability Strategy to achieve supply chain visibility and strengthen its pharmacovigilance activities against the scourge of Substandard and Falsified Medicines and Medical Devices by the end of the year 2024. The Agency has also established a Traceability Office (GS1 Desk) and a Technical Working Group to drive the activities in the 5-year implementation plan.
5. I am acutely aware of the spike in falsified medicines many countries face as a result of COVID-19 related supply chain disruptions. We must act fast, as we anticipate the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine, a commodity that will be in short supply, to protect it from falsification and diversion. The emergence of falsified versions of the COVID-19 vaccine would do irreparable harm to the already challenging task of vaccine literacy and acceptance.
6. We collectively face one of the largest and most challenging medicines distribution efforts ever. The technology exists to quickly create what I would call a “lean traceability” solution that will help regulatory agencies and donor institutions work together to quickly identify and remove falsified COVID-19 vaccines from distribution.

Finally, I acknowledge the contributions of all our stakeholders and partners and look forward to your continued collaboration.

Thank you all.