
Nigeria Looks to Simple Packaging Controls and International Cooperation to Curb Counterfeit Drugs
Nigeria Looks to Simple Packaging Controls and International Cooperation to Curb Counterfeit Drugs
The distribution of counterfeit drugs is a serious problem in Nigeria, as in many developing nations, driven by the desire of an impoverished population for drugs at the lowest possible price. A recent
The strategy is the innovation of the Boston-based company Sproxil, and relies on a code contained on a scratch card within the drug packaging. Consumers can enter the code by phone and receive instant confirmation that the product is legitimate. Manufacturers pay for the service and have been able to recapture market share from the counterfeit market. In CNN’s video, Dr. Ashifi Gogo, CEO of Sproxil states: “In a sense, the counterfeiters are paying for this service, which puts a smile on everyone’s face, except the counterfeiters.”
In addition to local solutions, Nigeria is reaching out to its trade partners to help combat this problem. On Mar. 16, 2011, a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of pharmaceuticals was
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