Anambra State Branch of Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers, NAPPMED, has vowed to assist State Government in fighting fake drugs and their dealers.
The association said this is in its bid to ensure complete eradication of fake and adulterated drugs in state.
The State President of the association, Comrade Amechi Macpaul Ozobia, made their stand known during the inauguration of the new Ogbaru unit Three, of NAPPMED, held at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church hall, Ossomala, Ogbaru Local Government Area.
Comrade Ozobia accused non members of the association of faking the drugs to tarnish the image of their members.
He posited that their members are not involved in faking medines, stating clearly that this year, they would ensure that they are completely eradicated from the State’s markets.
Comrade Ozobia maintained that fake drugs are worse than armed robbers and as such, dealers in fake/adulterated drugs do not deserve mercy because they are killers.
He further explained that the embargo placed on Procurement and Renewal of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors, PPMV, license, has not been lifted by the National Executive Council, NEC, of NAPPMED as her case with Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, PCN, is still pending in an Abuja High court.
In his response shortly after being inaugurated, the Chairman of the newly inaugurated Ogbaru Unit Three, Sunday Okoye, commended the state president and his executive members for finding the unit worthy to be inaugurated and promised that they would abide by their oath of office.
Also in their remarks, the Ogbaru Unit Three Vice Chairman, Samuel Okafor and Secretary General, Cyprian Chife, said that with the unit taskforce, the illegal activities of fake drug dealers and other
criminal elements would be checkmated with the view to curtailing their excesses.