FDB calls for change in legislation to control counterfeit drugs

The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) is advocating for a change in legislation to deal with counterfeit products that are being sold in the country.

Counterfeit products have flooded the country’s markets lately, and they range from mobile phones, fake drugs and other items.

The Board is calling for a change in legislation to make shop owners equally liable in case of injuries or death that might result from the use of such fake products.

Speaking to Citi News, the Chief Executive Officer of the FDB, Mr. Emmanuel Agyarko said, the legislation should also make shop owners who sell these fake products liable in case of injuries to customers.

He said, if a customer buys a fake mobile phone, which invariably transmits excessive radiation which could cause cancer to a customer, from a shop and it is found out later that the phone was the cause of the cancer, the shop owner should be held liable. According to him, if shop owners are held liable for selling fake products, they would be careful to stock genuine products in their shops.

He also warned that using fake drugs have grave consequences for people because it could lead to death. For instance, he said the use of fake drugs for diabetics could result in the patient falling into a coma.

Mr. Agyarko also called on the Ghanaian public to buy especially, drugs only from pharmacies and licensed chemical shops, so that should anything happen to them after using the drugs, the source can be traced.

He therefore asked the public to take responsibility for whatever they buy to safeguard their health.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi