NAFDAC rues light penalties for drug fakers

The Director General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Paul Orhii, has urged the Federal Government to review the stipulated penalty for those who are found guilty of producing fake drugs.

With the existing law, offenders found guilty are sentenced to 15 year jail term and N500,000 fine upon conviction.

Orhii, who was represented by the agency’s Deputy Director in charge of Drug Evaluation, Mrs Titilope Owolabi, at an international conference on ‘Medicine Regulation of Claims: From Conception to Launch’, at the University of Ibadan on Wednesday, wanted stiffer measures for those convicted.

“The agency has been spearheading global efforts in combating production of fake and counterfeit drugs. The present penalty for fake drugs manufacturers is not enough if we really want to fight the menace. We want the Federal Government to review it to life in jail and confiscation of property,” said the NAFDAC boss.

Punch