Drug adverts must be vetted before broadcast, herbalists told

Koforidua, Sept. 15, GNA- The Head of Communications Department of the Food and Drug Board (FDB), Mr. James Lartey, has stated that the approval and registration of a herbal concoction by the Board did not warrant its advertisement through the media.

He explained that the Board must also approve the script of the advert before it could be advertised to ensure that the message corresponded with the stated composition and indications approved by the Board.

Mr. Lartey stated this at a stakeholder's forum organized by the FDB in Koforidua on Thursday to interact with them on the Board's current temporary media ban on the advertisement of drugs. According to him, the Board's decision was based on the recent high rate of complaints from both consumers and health experts on the negative effects of the claims made by some drug dealers through media adverts to save the life of consumers.

Mr Lartey explained that before the recent temporary ban came into effect, the Board had met with the various stakeholders to discuss and find solution to the legal breaches, unfortunately it realised no corrective measures were been taken to check the incidence. He asked the media houses to demand the Board's approved script of drug adverts before broadcasting them.

The Zonal Officer of the Board in-charge of the Volta and Eastern Regions, Mrs. Nora Terlabie, gave an overview of the law on drug advertisement and the penalties for breaches and warned that the Board would intensify its monitoring in drug stores and the media to ensure compliance of the law. 15 Sept. 2006