Falsified drugs: PWDAN, APDA seek Africa-wide crackdown

20 countries to attend Lagos assembly on secure medicine supply chains By Chioma Obinna The Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Distributors Association of Nigeria, PWDAN, and the African Pharmaceutical Distributors Association, APDA, on Tuesday called for stronger collaboration among African countries and regulatory authorities to combat the circulation of falsified and substandard medicines across the continent. The associations said the cross-border movement of pharmaceutical products made stronger cooperation among countries and regulatory authorities necessary to protect the integrity of medicine supply chains. The call came ahead of the 4th APDA Thematic General Assembly, scheduled for October 6 to 8, 2026, in Lagos, with the theme, “Advancing Pharmaceutical Distribution in Africa: Building Secure Supply Chains Against Falsified Medicines.

” Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, PWDAN National Chairman, Pharm. Ogheneochuko Omaruaye, said the threat of falsified medicines required coordinated action beyond individual countries, particularly because pharmaceutical products move across national borders. Omaruaye said PWDAN had consistently advocated implementation of Nigeria’s New Drug Distribution Guidelines, stressing that the country already had policies capable of addressing several supply-chain challenges but needed stronger implementation. He also called for greater support for regulatory agencies and accountability across the pharmaceutical distribution chain, involving manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers. According to him, the continental focus of APDA would strengthen collaboration among regulatory bodies in different African countries and help tackle the cross-border movement of falsified medicines. Omaruaye said the forthcoming…