The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) will together with the pharmacy council launch a nationwide intensive programme to ensure that unregistered products are not distributed through official channels.
The board is worried that Ghana is experiencing the influx of such products, particularly those perceived to be sex enhancing drugs which are mostly of Chinese origin.
It has vowed to halt attempts by some gangsters to launch into Ghana’s growing economy through selling of unwholesome products.
As part of its regulatory activities, the board held a press briefing in Accra to expose some of these unregistered drugs and to caution the general public that the following have not been approved and they are dangerous to use.
They include America Viagra, USA Wolf brother, USA Lan Gee, American superman and USA Viagra 100%. Others are Super overlord, Power 007 USA, USA Vager 777, Powerful and Herbal Viagra, and Sexy Goddess.
The Deputy Executive Director of FDB, Rev. J.Y. Mantey said the board has not registered the above products which are deceptively packaged to show that they contain pure active ingredients.
“Inferior grades and unwholesome ingredients are being used to produce these drugs which could have severe effects on the users. We cannot afford to make Ghana a refuse dump for all kinds of unwholesome products,” he said.
He said the board does not expect any licensed chemical shop to have any of these products. However, he said the action by FDB is not to cast a slur on all products designed to enhance sexual performance but to caution that majority of them are unwholesome.
He warned that those whose interest is mainly to make money at the expense of quality health care in the country will not have their way.
“Let me sound a strong warning that the days when people smuggle in such unregistered products as part of their personal belongings at the various entry points is over. People should not be surprised if they arrive at the entry points and their luggage are searched thoroughly,” Rev. Mantey emphasized.
He questioned the extent at which Ghanaians patronize products with inscriptions solely in Chinese and claiming to be coming from America.
According to him, such drugs do not exist anywhere in the United States of America. He said, there are legally recognized channels for the distribution of drugs and that Ghanaians must honour these legal provisions and buy from licensed chemical shops.
He disclosed that Ghana has one of the safest drug market, therefore all and sundry must work to maintain standards since the regulatory authority cannot do it alone.
Rev. Mantey appealed to Ghanaians to exercise their civic responsibility to complement the fight against inferior products as is being done by those in western countries.
According to him, the FDB and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), which is responsible for agency work at the border pots have renewed their commitments to ensure that unregistered products do not find their way into the country, in order to lift public health.
Mr. Yaw Kwarteng, Head of Import and Export Control Department at FDB said importers should note that they do not have the right to bring in just anything to make money.
“All importers must consult the board and register all products they intend to import.” According to him, the FDB is also hooked to the GCNET system currently being used by CEPS and that this collaboration has been effective in exposing unwholesome products, which formerly were easily concealed.
No comments:
Post a Comment