The President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Prof
Ahmed Yakasai has picked holes in the claim by the Senate that
about 42 antimalarial drugs banned by the European Union (EU) were
still in circulation at the Nigerian market.
Speaking with our reporter in an interview, the PSN President
said, the drugs being listed as banned were mono therapy drugs,
which Nigeria no more uses.
Yakasai who was disappointed said the alarm raised was uncalled
for as the issue is stale and has been addressed in the past.
The Nigerian Senate had on 20th of July 2017 deliberated and
raised alarm over antimalarial drugs that have been banned in
Europe but are still sold in hospitals and pharmacies in
Nigeria.
The Senate also mandated its Committee on Health both Secondary
and Tertiary being led by Senator Olarewaju Tejuoso, to urgently
carry out an investigation into the matter and report back.
However, the PSN President, responding to the claim said the
World Health Organization guideline had Okayed a combination
therapy for treatment of malarial, which Nigeria had already
adopted.
“The list of antimalarial medicines circulated on social media
by Itodje Okiemute Godstime on March 21, 2017 at www.gt9ja.com are
ORAL MONOTHERAPIES which ARE NOT the recommended medicines for
treatment of UNCOMPLICATED MALARIA in Nigeria”
Yakasai further that the claims that the drugs will lead to
liver or Kidney Failure does not hold water, as it has no
scientific backing.
The recommended combination medicines for malaria in Nigeria are
Artesunate+Amodiaquine (AA), Artemether+Lumefantrinr (AL) and
Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine (SP), which are also the WHO recommended
combinations.
The European Medicines Agency’s website was searched and it was
established that: Artesunate is used in combination with
Amodiaquine, Artemether is used in combination with Lumefantrine,
Pyrimethamine is used in combination with Sulphadoxine, Proguanil
is used in combination with other active pharmaceutical ingredient
in Atovaquone, Halofantrine is recommended by WHO for use in area
where multiple drug resistance Plasmodium falciparum malaria is
prevalent.
“The claim of Itodje Okiemute Godstime in respect of poisoning
and kidney failure have no clinical or scientific backing.
The PSN President has further directed the Senate to the WHO
guidelines for treating both complicated and uncomplicated Malaria,
which is already operational in Nigeria
Meanwhile the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration
and Control (NAFDAC), Friday said it will reflect and respond
appropriately to the claims as at when due.
LEADERSHIP
The President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Prof
Ahmed Yakasai has picked holes in the claim by the Senate that
about 42 antimalarial drugs banned by the European Union (EU) were
still in circulation at the Nigerian market.
Speaking with our reporter in an interview, the PSN President
said, the drugs being listed as banned were mono therapy drugs,
which Nigeria no more uses.
Yakasai who was disappointed said the alarm raised was uncalled
for as the issue is stale and has been addressed in the past.
The Nigerian Senate had on 20th of July 2017 deliberated and
raised alarm over antimalarial drugs that have been banned in
Europe but are still sold in hospitals and pharmacies in
Nigeria.
The Senate also mandated its Committee on Health both Secondary
and Tertiary being led by Senator Olarewaju Tejuoso, to urgently
carry out an investigation into the matter and report back.
However, the PSN President, responding to the claim said the
World Health Organization guideline had Okayed a combination
therapy for treatment of malarial, which Nigeria had already
adopted.
“The list of antimalarial medicines circulated on social media
by Itodje Okiemute Godstime on March 21, 2017 at www.gt9ja.com are
ORAL MONOTHERAPIES which ARE NOT the recommended medicines for
treatment of UNCOMPLICATED MALARIA in Nigeria”
Yakasai further that the claims that the drugs will lead to
liver or Kidney Failure does not hold water, as it has no
scientific backing.
The recommended combination medicines for malaria in Nigeria are
Artesunate+Amodiaquine (AA), Artemether+Lumefantrinr (AL) and
Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine (SP), which are also the WHO recommended
combinations.
The European Medicines Agency’s website was searched and it was
established that: Artesunate is used in combination with
Amodiaquine, Artemether is used in combination with Lumefantrine,
Pyrimethamine is used in combination with Sulphadoxine, Proguanil
is used in combination with other active pharmaceutical ingredient
in Atovaquone, Halofantrine is recommended by WHO for use in area
where multiple drug resistance Plasmodium falciparum malaria is
prevalent.
“The claim of Itodje Okiemute Godstime in respect of poisoning
and kidney failure have no clinical or scientific backing.
The PSN President has further directed the Senate to the WHO
guidelines for treating both complicated and uncomplicated Malaria,
which is already operational in Nigeria
Meanwhile the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration
and Control (NAFDAC), Friday said it will reflect and respond
appropriately to the claims as at when due.
LEADERSHIP
Read more https://nairalaw.com/psn-president-replies-senate-over-banned-antimalarial-drugs/