Counterfeit Drugs On The Ghanaian Market

Laboratory analyses conducted by the food and Drug board confirms that some drugs imported from some countries into Ghana contain no active ingredient as well as some drugs and herbal medicine produce by some Ghanaians.

According to the chief executive director of the food and Drug board Dr Stephen Opuni , the lastest of such drugs is the counterfeit Artesunate Tablet with batch number 080504 and which has the manufacturers address as GULIN PHARMACEUTICAL CO LIMITED, no 17 shanghai road Gyilin Guangxi China. The FDB boss warns Ghanaians of the consumption of the product and he made mention of the fact that , it will not provide any treatment for malaria and can lead to possibly serious complication and even death. He further advice the general public not to, patronise the said Artesunate tablets and to report anyone found offering them for sale to the nearest FDB office or the Police .

It will be noted that, the selling of counterfeit medicines in Ghana is an offence and is in contravention of section 12 of the food and Drug law, PNDC Law 305b and its subsequent amendment Act 523, 1996 whic states that , where a standard has been prescribed for any drug, any person who labels, packages, sells or advertises any substance in such a manner that is likely to be mistaken for that drug commits an offence.

Furthermore the FDB boss caution any wholesaler, retailer pharmacy or licence chemical shop that has in stock these medicines should immediately stop dispensing them and inform the board by the following numbers 0244337235 , 0208204968 or 0244385086 ,from frank o obimpeh food and drug board office Accra.