Seminar on Drug Advertisement held in Takoradi

Takoradi, Jan. 20, GNA - Mr Ben Botwe, Deputy Chief Executive of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), on Tuesday said drugs especially, herbal preparations currently being advertised on the media, had not been approved by the Board.
Speaking at a one-day seminar on drug advertisement organised by the Board, he said the advertisement contravened the Food and Drug Law. Medical officers, media personnel, Pharmacists and herbalists attended the Seminar.
He said the proliferation of such unauthorised advertisements gives cause for concern and has raised alarm in the health sector. He said concerns had been raised about claims of curative powers of herbal products for diseases such as male impotence, hypertension, diabetes, sexual weakness, fibroids and HIV/AIDS.
Mr Botwe said certification of products for sale and the approval of advertisements were not the same and that the two required different procedures.
He said the Board's expectation of self-regulation in this area is not achieving result due to the fact that individuals who are not professional advertisers write most advertisements.
"In the end, a lot of unpalatable language is used and consumers are coerced into buying and using medications that could lead to various complications and reduced health outcomes", Mr Botwe said. He said the Board's pharma-covigilance or safety-monitoring system was currently investigating adverse events as a result of use of herbal medicines through advertisement.
Mr Botwe said the Board had established legal and monitoring units to assist to identify offenders and bring them to book. He said the Board was working with the district assemblies to review their byelaws on food and drugs to bring them in line with the Food and Drugs Law.
Dr. Linda Van-Otoo, Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Director of Health Services, said the claim by some herbalists that their preparations could melt fibroids is unfounded.
She said herbal preparations could not reach where fibroids are located in the body.
With regards to herbal treatment of male impotence, Dr. Van-Otoo said herbalists target men because they do not seek medical treatment for impotence and sexual problems.
She said some herbal preparations could cause erection of the penis for a long time and this could result in adverse conditions. Miss Mercy Acquaye, Regulation Officer of the Board, who spoke on guidelines for advertisement, said some drug manufacturers in a bid to promote their products sponsor phone-in programmes on FM Stations without permission from the Board.
She said during phone-in discussions, people are paid to give testimonies about the efficacy of the drug. Miss Acquaye said advertisements on drugs approved by the Board should be renewed every year, adding that when such advertisements are altered, the Board's approval is nullified.