By Kumba Leigh
In its quest to address substandard and falsified medical products, the Medicines Control Agency recently launched a National Substandard and Falsified Medical Product Plan to combat the risk of product tampering, mitigate risk of substandard and falsified medicines and unregistered medical products.
The aim is to eliminate the presence of substandard, falsified, and unregistered medical products within the healthcare system, as the policy employ several strategic approaches.
The policy also focuses on establishing an efficient supply chain system to ensure the availability of medical products, consumables, and vaccines levels of healthcare.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Essa Marenah, Acting Executive Director, Medicines Control Agency, said ensuring safety of medicines in The Gambia, qualifications of medicines and all its related products in the country is a mandate of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA). However, he pointed out that without effective partnership and collaboration with all the important partners, the goal cannot be achieved; thus stakeholder engagement and collaboration is one of their key priorities, as regulatory authority.
MCA’s boss stated that since September 2023, the agency started a very important journey towards achieving WG maturity level three - the level that every regulatory authority in the world is aspiring to achieve. He explained that this is the standard set by WHO, and that so far in Africa, only eight countries out of the 55 countries have achieved the WHO majority level three, while many other countries, including The Gambia, are in the process.
“As an agency, we came up with three important programmes that would help guide the process. We have already developed an institutional development programme to restructure the whole agency including directorates, departments, units, and regional structures that will cover the key border points, and some ports of entry into the country,” Mr Marenah further explained.
In the case of human capital development, Mr Marenah submitted that since 2023, they have been engaged in vigorous trainings both nationally and internationally and recruiting, through the help of their international partners and some local partners, including other widely consultation meetings.
He admonished that substandard and falsified medications is a global problem, most especially for the West African sub-region, and stressed that these are medicines that do not meet the required standards of quality, safety, efficacy, and thereby causing serious danger to patients and pose serious mistrust in the health system.
MCA boss went on to reference the National Health Policy 2021-2030, which he noted, plays a vital role in combating substandard and falsified medical products, aligning with its core philosophy of building partnerships for quality healthcare accessible to all. “The policy is closely linked to The Gambia’s Development Plan, which emphasises equitable access to essential health services, including safe, effective, and quality medicines.
He said commitment to quality resonates throughout the policy document, addressing challenges like insufficient human resources, limited access to medical products, inadequate quality assurance systems, and the presence of unregistered medicines.
Dr Momodou T Nyassi, Director of Health Services, Ministry of Health, warned that addressing the issue of substandard and falsified medical products (SFMP) is a complex and multifaceted challenge requiring coordinated global efforts, significant investments and regulatory and enforcement capabilities, and sustained commitment from all stakeholders involved.
He stressed that substandard and falsified medicines is a burden on the economy and social life of the people worldwide, adding that WHO stated countries spend an estimated US$ 30.5 billion per year on substandard and falsified medical products, which can have serious budget implications for a developing nation like The Gambia.
He however assured that The Gambia Government through its regulatory framework is committed to fighting SFMP.
Dr jerreh Sanyang, Board Chairman, Medicines Control Agency; and Amadou Camara, National Assembly Health Committee also echoed similar sentiments.
