Due to the growing menace of fake and counterfeit drugs circulation and treatment failures in the country, Me Cure Industries Plc, has signed an agreement with the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) in introducing an innovative technology, called Track-and-Trace solution to ensure product safety and elevate patient safety standards.
Speaking in a meeting held at the ACPN National Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos, the leader of the Me Cure team, Pharm. (Mrs) Iniobong Joseph, explained the essence of the new technology, saying it is in response to the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry’s dual imperative to balance the accessibility of medicines and the growing threat of fake and counterfeit drugs in the market.
She noted that the tool plays a pivotal role in preventing counterfeit drugs from infiltrating the healthcare supply chain, posing risks such as incorrect ingredients, improper dosages, and harmful substances that can have severe health consequences, adding that the initiative fortifies the pharmaceutical supply chain and also fosters collaboration among various stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, and regulatory bodies, through shared access to standardized, traceable data systems.
According to her, “It is user-friendly and all that is required is just to scan the QR code on the pack of any Me Cure product and all the information needed would be sent immediately. It’s an easy process for both the seller and even the end-user. The QR codes are already embedded in our cartons and product packs and they just need to download the QR code scanner.”
She further explained that the Track and Trace Solution monitors and documents the entire journey of a pharmaceutical product, from manufacturing to the end-user, adding that the comprehensive transparency ensures that every stage of the drug’s trajectory is traceable and verifiable.
“Circulation of counterfeit drugs is a fatal and growing problem, especially in developing countries where supply chain security is limited. The Track and Trace Solution offers consumers the ability to authenticate each product with just a click on any smartphone.
“We have come to partner with the ACPN so that we can encourage community pharmacists across the country to come on board and embrace this initiative, as we want every dose, every pill, and every medication to be trusted and we want assurance of good health after the medications are taken. This is the standard in advanced countries and if it is replicated here, the better for our healthcare sector, as the health nation is wealthy.”
In his remarks, National Chairman, ACPN, Pharm. Wale Oladigbolu, expressed the delight of the association to partner with Me Cure towards ensuring that the society is rid of unwholesome drugs, adding that the association would like to encourage other pharma companies in the country as a matter of urgency to make sure that they take part in the track and trace policy of the federal government.
His words, “As a responsible group of professionals and a responsible company, we have decided to partner together to rid our society of sub-standard and falsified medicine, so to this extent, we are using technology for track and trace and every community pharmacists in Nigeria is encouraged to adopt this technology that is being brought onboard by Me Cure”, he said.
While speaking on the NAFDAC-launched database to identify certified drugs a few months ago, the ACPN boss noted that as the medicines are being manufactured, and taken to the warehouses in the country, NAFDAC should be aware, adding that as it goes down to the retailer, even to the point of the end-users, NAFDAC should be in the know, so that every product in Nigeria would have traceability attributes.
“If there is doubt about the credibility of medicines, the healthcare system is in trouble, so this innovation will encourage people to trust Nigeria's healthcare system and this is the reason we are partnering with Me Cure, to encourage other pharma companies to come on board so that every tablet, every syrup, every injection, and every capsule that come from our pharma sector are products of trust”, he said.
