Govt begins implementation of National Drug Distribution Guidelines

THE federal government has commenced the implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDGs).

The implementation, which took effect on July 1, would hopefully sanitise the drug distribution system in the country.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute, who made this announcement in Abuja, noted that the development would check the practice of open drug markets in the country.

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and National Agency for Foods, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) are to ensure full compliance.

“We are hopeful that the existence of open drug markets in the country will be a thing of the past as the drug distribution system of the country has remained uncoordinated, chaotic and has resulted in the circulation of fake, adulterated, substandard and counterfeit drugs,” he stressed.

He stressed how chaotic drug distribution poses a huge threat to the sanity of the pharmaceutical sector.

Awute said “The launch of the document in 2012 signalled the take-off of its implementation while the deadline was for the establishment of State Drug Distribution Centres (SDDCs) by the state governments and Mega Drug Distribution Centres (MDDSs) by the private sector was declared on 30th June, 2014.

“The deadline was however extended to 30th June 2015 to allow more time for the establishment of more SDDCs and MDDCs.”

He reminded stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector and Nigerians to brace up for the full implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines.

He said that state governments are allowed to upgrade their medical stores to the level of SDDCs adding that states like Jigawa, Niger, and Ekiti have already commenced the implementation of the guidelines while Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Anambra SDDCs are ready for take-off.

He added that other developed MDDs structures are the Arsene Laboratory, World Wide Ventures and the Onitsha Mega Drug Distribution Centre waiting commissioning even as the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria is supporting the establishment of Ultra-logistics Company with on-going structures of the MDDCs in the six geopolitical zones of the country.