By ADEROGBA GEORGE

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says the agency is currently carrying out laboratory test on all paracetamol sold in the country.

This is contained in a statement signed by the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye on Monday in Abuja by NAFDAC media consultant, Mr Olusayo Akintola,

Adeyeye disclosed that the urgent test was in response to allegations that nearly all paracetamol tablets in Nigeria were under dosed.

Adeyeye stated that as soon as the laboratory test is finished, the public would be updated on the state of paracetamol sold in the country.

The NAFDAC boss said the agency had received a copy of the publication of the research finding of the subject matter, and stated that the report was misleading, and the science, questionable.

She said that as soon as the agency became aware of the allegations, she had meetings with respective NAFDAC Directors and directed for survey of the market, to sample and test as the quality culture of NAFDAC demanded.

According to her, she has also met with the leadership of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria to inform them of the agency’s intent.

She disclosed that NAFDAC laboratories are ISO 17025-certified yearly to ensure that procedures used for testing were based on international standards and that the equipment or instruments used were similarly qualified.

Adeyeye stated that the agency undertakes yearly post-marketing survey of medicines to ensure that quality and safety were maintained.

She added that wherever deviations were observed, NAFDAC would issue a public alert or recall the product/s.

“In the last two years, we have issued 88 public alerts and ordered 32 recalls for medicines and foods.

“We are using this medium to assure the public that NAFDAC is using international standards and scientific methods to survey the paracetamol product.

“Samples of the product were collected from different parts of the country in the right amount and will be tested using well calibrated, and qualified state-of-the-art equipment or instruments.

“This is part of our routine regulatory post marketing surveillance among others throughout the life cycle of a medicine.”

According to her, NAFDAC has five ISO-17025 Laboratories across the country, and a World Health Organisation (WHO) Pre-qualified Laboratory at Yaba, Lagos where medicines are tested for quality and safety.

“The laboratories test medicines using official monographs of British Pharmacopeia, United States Pharmacopoeia, and International Pharmacopoeia.

“When we finish the laboratory testing, we will update the public. NAFDAC wishes to reassure the public that the agency is very vigilant in her responsibilities in safeguarding the health of the nation,” Adeyeye said.

She reiterated that NAFDAC had been recognised by WHO as a stable, well-functioning agency, and by other international partners as an organisation that placed premium on quality, safety and efficacy of medicines, food, and other regulated products. (NAN)

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