Chinese gov't to assist Ghana deal with fake drugs import

Chinese Embassy officials on Saturday met the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and promised to help Ghana identify the origins of counterfeit medicines as well as fight the illegal trade in Ghana.

The Chinese officials who called on the Chief Executive Officer of FDA, Dr Stephen K. Opuni, said the meeting was premised on recent media reports on activities of the FDA to clamp down counterfeit drugs which are alleged to come from China.
Discussions were centred on substandard and fake medicines imported and supplied by Lymens Medical supplies, Osons Chemist and Sarkuff Pharmacy, to health institutions in the country and also the importation of fake Tres Orix Forte from China by one Rita Fordjour.

Dr Opuni expressed his displeasure at the rate at which substandard and fake medicines from China, India and other countries are flooding the Ghanaian market and welcomed the gesture by the Chinese government to help fight the menace.

He said some of the importers such as Lymens Medical Supplies, one of the recent counterfeit medicine scandal who are assisting the police in investigations, have still not been able to disclose the origins of such drugs raising the suspicion of the non-existence of the said companies.

Mr Gao Wendzi, Economic and Commercial counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, said his government was concerned about the menace and ready to assist the country to bring the culprits to book. He assured that the Chinese government will support to trace the origins of the companies and their Ghanaian counterparts involved to help end the illegal trade.

Some Few weeks ago the FDA apprehended three giant Ghanaian pharmaceutical companies for supplying substandard and fake drugs to some hospitals and pharmacies across the country.

The three companies include Lymens Medical Supplies Limited and Sarkuff Pharmacy - are alleged to have imported unregistered, fake and substandard medicines.

The Authority said the fake, substandard and contaminated imported Oxytocin and Ergometrine injections when given to women will fail to control bleeding after child delivery and could result in death.

The substandard and contaminated Oxytocin injections according to the FDA were manufactured in China by companies with no addresses.

Source: GNA