NAFDAC Introduces Enhanced Med Safety App to Tackle Counterfeit Drugs
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has officially launched an upgraded version of its Med Safety App, designed to strengthen the reporting of substandard and falsified medical products, as well as adverse drug reactions, across Nigeria. The agency stated that the improved digital platform will enable healthcare professionals and the general public to report suspicious medicines and harmful drug reactions quickly, easily, and securely. This initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance medicine safety monitoring and post-marketing surveillance in the country.
Addressing Public Health Challenges
According to NAFDAC, substandard and falsified medical products remain a major public health challenge, contributing to treatment failure, prolonged illness, antimicrobial resistance, disability, and preventable deaths. The agency emphasized that the upgraded application features a more user-friendly interface, simplified reporting procedures, enhanced data management systems, and improved feedback mechanisms. Users can now upload photographs and relevant product information to support investigations, making the reporting process more comprehensive and efficient.
Key Features of the Upgraded App
The platform allows users to report medicines with suspicious characteristics, including altered expiry dates, unusual packaging, questionable registration numbers, poor quality, and unexpected treatment failures. Additionally, the app enables the reporting of adverse drug reactions such as allergic reactions, unexpected side effects, and other harmful responses experienced after using medical products. NAFDAC explained that reports submitted through the application will assist regulators in detecting substandard and falsified products early, facilitating prompt investigations and regulatory interventions. This will help remove unsafe products from circulation and improve evidence-based decision-making.
Importance of Public Participation
NAFDAC noted that public participation remains critical in the fight against poor-quality and counterfeit medicines. Reports from citizens will help authorities identify emerging threats and issue timely public alerts where necessary. The agency reported that there has already been an increase in reporting of suspected substandard and falsified medicines since the introduction of the upgraded platform, describing the response as encouraging.
Call to Action for Healthcare Professionals and Public
NAFDAC urged healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, doctors, nurses, and community health workers, as well as patients and caregivers, to download and actively use the application whenever they encounter suspicious products or adverse drug reactions. The agency also advised consumers to purchase medicines only from authorized and reputable sources and to remain vigilant for signs of falsified products. The Med Safety App is available on Android and iOS devices and can also be accessed through web and desktop versions, according to NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye.
