The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched a new verification app ‘Greenbook’ to tackle the growing issue of counterfeit and fake medical products in Nigeria.
The agency unveiled its latest tool, the Greenbook verification app, urging Nigerians to actively participate in the fight by using the app to verify the authenticity of medical products and ensure their safety.
Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, made the appeal on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of a two-day sensitisation and awareness workshop on the Greenbook, traceability project, and paediatric policy in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Adeyeye, represented by Fraden Bitrus, the Director of the Post-Marketing Surveillance Directorate at NAFDAC, explained that the NAFDAC Greenbook, a comprehensive database of registered drug products in Nigeria, was introduced to counter the advanced methods used in the production and distribution of counterfeit medicines.
She stated, “Counterfeiters have become more sophisticated in advancing their trade. Therefore, the agency is committed to using technology and modern methods to mitigate their activities, making stakeholder sensitisation essential.”
“The NAFDAC Greenbook is an online resource for identifying a product’s source. Users can enter the product name, brand name, or registration number to verify its registration status,” she continued.
“If the product is listed in the Greenbook, it signifies that it has been registered by NAFDAC and is considered authentic. The Greenbook serves as a tool to help consumers identify and avoid potentially fake or substandard products.”
Adeyeye also revealed that Nigeria is the first country in Africa to implement this technology and the second in the world.
She encouraged stakeholders in the healthcare sector to support initiatives aimed at eliminating substandard and falsified medical products, ensuring the provision of quality, safe, and effective medicines for Nigerians.
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In her goodwill message, Adaeze Oreh, the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, assured the state’s commitment to working with NAFDAC to combat counterfeit drugs. Oreh, represented by Quanta Dappa, the Rivers State Coordinator for Drug and Substance Abuse Control and Focal Person for Pharmacovigilance at the Rivers State Ministry of Health, commended NAFDAC for its efforts to rid the country of unsafe drugs.
Oreh remarked, “We are very pleased with the commitment of the NAFDAC DG and her team in eliminating these unscrupulous elements from our society.”
“As a state, we have a task force on counterfeit, substandard, and fake drugs, and it is worth noting that NAFDAC is an integral part of that team. We are committed to clamping down on these unpatriotic individuals who are endangering lives.”
Oligbu Chukwuma, NAFDAC’s Director for the South-South Zone, highlighted that measures were in place to ensure that state coordinators in the zone implement necessary steps to curb the spread of counterfeit medical products.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, Chukwuma said, “I visit the states, and they submit monthly reports on their activities, supported with evidence. This is all part of the anti-counterfeit measures in place. As you can see, there is zero tolerance for counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.”
The Greenbook app can be downloaded via the Apple Store or Google Play Store using the link: greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng.