Pharmaceutical distributors in Africa are urging regulators to strengthen enforcement of existing regulations and collaborate regionally to combat the circulation of falsified and substandard medicines. They highlight weaknesses in traceability, documentation, storage, transportation, and distribution networks as key vulnerabilities that allow compromised products to enter the pharmaceutical supply chain. This issue is set to be a major topic of discussion at the upcoming African Pharmaceutical Distribution Association and Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Distributors Association of Nigeria Conference in Lagos.
The conference, themed “Advancing Pharmaceutical Distribution in Africa: Building Secure Supply Chains Against Falsified Medicines,” aims to develop an action framework with recommendations on enhancing supply chain security. Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Distributors Association of Nigeria, Ogheneochuko Omaruaye, emphasized that the circulation of falsified and substandard medicines is a significant public health and economic concern. Compromised medicines can lead to treatment failure, antimicrobial resistance, and avoidable illness and death, while also causing economic losses.
Omaruaye stressed the need for secure pharmaceutical supply chains, from manufacturing and importation to warehousing, transportation, wholesale distribution, and dispensing. He called for stronger enforcement of existing policies and accountability for supply chain integrity among manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers. According to him, Nigeria has sufficient policies and documentation but struggles with effective implementation.
The lack of effective implementation of policies on supply chain integrity, introduced over a decade ago, remains a significant challenge. Omaruaye noted that producing quality medicines and investing in healthcare infrastructure are insufficient if products can be compromised before reaching patients. He advocated for secure, traceable, and accountable supply chains and stronger collaboration between regulators and industry stakeholders.
Regional regulatory harmonization is also crucial, as weaknesses in one country’s supply chain can develop into a wider regional challenge. Omaruaye highlighted Nigeria’s strategic position in Africa’s pharmaceutical ecosystem, emphasizing that developments in its distribution system have implications beyond its borders. A strong and transparent distribution network in Nigeria could contribute to medicine security across West Africa and the continent.
The assembly is expected to focus on various aspects of supply chain integrity, including warehousing standards, transportation conditions, temperature monitoring, and humidity control. The meeting aims to produce a Lagos Declaration on Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Integrity, containing recommendations for governments, regulators, manufacturers, and distributors across Africa. Other expected outcomes include a continent-wide capacity development roadmap for pharmaceutical distribution.
The conference also aims to address demand-side challenges through consumer education initiatives, promoting responsible medicine purchasing and public awareness of falsified products. Omaruaye described the assembly as an opportunity for stakeholders to work together to secure Africa’s pharmaceutical supply chains and strengthen public confidence in medicines. The meeting will bring together governments, regulators, distributors, manufacturers, healthcare professionals, technology partners, and development organizations.
Key points
- Pharmaceutical distributors are calling for stronger regulation and regional collaboration to combat falsified medicines in Africa.
- The upcoming conference in Lagos aims to develop an action framework to enhance supply chain security and address the issue of falsified medicines.
- Strengthening supply chain integrity and regional regulatory harmonization are crucial to preventing the circulation of compromised medicines.
