Tobinco challenges FDA to prove Fake drugs

Accra, Nov 25-----Tobinco Pharmaceuticals Limited has challenged the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to provide evidence to show that the company’s drugs are Fake.

“So far, FDA has not brought any scientific proof on the assertions that it has made regarding TOBINCO's products. This leads us to the conclusion that there is no scientific basis for FDA's declaration of TOBINCO's medicines as "fake".

“We therefore challenge FDA to provide scientific evidence to show that drugs imported by Tobinco are fake,” Dr Peter Tobbin, a Senior Tobinco Communication Officer stated at a press conference in Accra on Monday.

Dr Tobbin also denied the erroneous impression created by FDA that its drugs products entered the country through illegal routes; he noted that “Every product of TOBINCO came to the country through the approved ports of entry for medicines which is Tema port and Kotoka International Airport.

“Clearance is only done after inspection and issuance of clearing permit by the FDA. Tobinco has never cleared any drug product from the port without the approval of the FDA”.

The company therefore appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to use his good office to intervene in this matter to protect the sustenance of local industries or private capital in Ghana.

“We know the President to be very peaceful, affable and respectable gentlemen who will not condone the use of government machinery, to harass innocent citizens much less intimidate indigenous entrepreneurs out of business,” Dr Tobbin stated.

He also denied assertions by FDA that Tobinco is operating secret warehouses across the country; Dr Tobinco noted that in line with the company’s objective, it established Entrance Industries Limited and Research Centre, a cutting - edge ultra- modern manufacturing facility with quality standards that meet that of the World Health Organization.

The FDA and University of Ghana School of Pharmacy are third parties to the joint project by TOBINCO, German Technical Cooperation, GIZ and 1A Pharma, Germany, to set up the first Pharmaceutical Research Centre incorporated in the manufacturing facility.

It therefore comes as a huge surprise to TOBINCO that this facility which is a separate entity could be described and called a warehouse and come under attack by officials of FDA and EOCO on 21st November, 2013.

According to Tobbinco, the CEO of FDA, Dr. Stephen Opuni has been using communist inferior tactics to frustrate the efforts of TOBINCO in resolving the issues at stake.