Not quite few years ago National Association of Proprietor Medicine Dealers(NAP-MED) had a supremacy imbroglio with Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria; a fur-ore on who does much; or bear much responsibility in bringing sanity to the distribution, display, sales and selection of some drugs, for representational promotion, to the citizenry, populace or rather patients (users) though, if care had not been taken by the government it could have led to an unending and unhealthy rivalry but since the government is between two beautiful brides;those at the helm of affairs handled the delicate matter well , to have arrived at a good conclusion and mutual but beneficial delegation of roles and responsibilities, to both warring sides then, since they know when two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers; as we all need to know that the citizens who need always some of these health-products would suffer most. And thank God, this had become a thing of the past.
However, to be candid, without taking sides Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) represent the government truly but the buck of some roles and parts play by National Association of Proprietor Medicine Dealers (NAP-MED) is not quantifiable yet one can say "no victor; no vanquished" in the supremacy-fight.
Meanwhile, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria is an umbrella Association or body for all Pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria, which regulates the production and promotion of any type of drugs in our various markets, but the game between PCN and Fake Manufacturers is like that of cat and mouse, which is the same in all countries of the world and sometime goes dicey, drawl y, destructively, derogatorily and defenselessly if NAP-MED; the entreport to the market for the populace is not co-opted by PCN, to arrest the ugly influence and infiltration of these Fake Drugs Manufacturers into our market, because if all the device able net of the government to catch these "saboteurs" should be stretched on both side by PCN and NAP-MED then it would be a water-tight and fortified defense , for the citizenry against any fake drugs manufacturer, to have influence on them, in buying non-standard drugs, which could terminate lives suddenly and unnecessarily. And lest I forget here I unwind on some roles being played by NAP-MED to the commoners or public which they need to be commended for;
(1) Proximity (The importance of their nearness to the public is unwearable and immeasurable.
(2) Variety: Dont forget they keep the varieties of different drugs from different pharmaceuticals in their shops, which in the importance of distribution through marketing-mix; no pharmaceutical will like to promote the drugs belonging to other pharmaceutical.
(3) Availability; NAP-MED members keeping shops are right there for the members of the public come sun, rain during daylight or even midnight. And where preferential treatment is allowed, customers could be given privilege in cost reduction, credit facility or dead-midnight call, to save a patient at the point of emergence or survival.
(4) Reorientation or Interpretation of Instruction: In some cases some members of NAP-MED at their shops interpret the meaning of instruction written in English-language or Foreign Language to the ignorant or illiterate buyers or users.
(5)NAP-MED; the last resort of where the users get their drugs could be creatively tapped, to arrest the fake drugs manufacturers.
(6) Nonetheless, since NAFDAC and ND LEA; the agents of the Federal Government on regulating the distribution, sales and production of drugs are as active; as the sun that gives light, vitality and helping to dry and ripen some of our fruits and crops for consumption; it is better to commend these two agents as helping a lot in removing the chaffs from the grains, in respect of fake drugs and manufacturers, for a healthier nation that we all want Nigeria and her people to be.
Nevertheless, with PCN, PSN, DPS and NAP-MED toeing the legal course, and abiding by the rules and regulation of the Federal Government and leaving up to expectation by allegiance to the government and citizenry of this nation; Nigeria, there is no reason why our health sector regarding the sales and distribution of drugs nationwide will not be sanitize and safe , for the good of all and sundry. Only the Federal Government should find something done to make the cost of License obtain by the members of NAP-MED considerable, while the embargo laid on the non-inclusive of the essential drugs on their shelves, of the NAP-MED members should be lifted, for those who need them; among those in the public who would be able to have them as at when due; during emergence or excruciating pain through .
And some regulation affecting adversely the NAP-MED members like "two-hundred meters between shops of the members of NAP-MED, and some NAP-MED members leaving their age-long location for a new pharmaceutical company erection or establishment should be revoked.
By and Large, NAP-MED members are serving already to complement Primary Health Care or call it Society Family Health though in this time of recession; they are complaining of great reduction in market-sales, profit and products while Duty regarding cost of dollars is too exorbitant and the aftermath effect is high cost of drugs, still they are not relenting on playing their roles too in respect of active task force; detecting fake-drugs through packaging, bad consequence for erring members, while now they have even improved by Malaria Test or Diagnosis. Yet here they want the Federal Government to help them with grants and loans to help improve on their means of livelihood.
All in all if i should conclude on this piece; it is better to say we should all give kudos to PCN who without them there can be no drug available talk-less of anybody being in a position to be dealer or seller, on behalf of the larger society I'm giving thanks to all concerned, in the good gesture to improve our health through correct drugs manufacturing and distribution!
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