By Memuna Asumah
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) as part of effort to ensure that Ghana’s drugs and medicines market is free from dangerous substances has confiscated some herbal and orthodox pharmaceuticals at Alabar in the Ashanti Region.
A 35-year-old woman, known for selling herbal medicine was arrested as well by the team of FDA officials and the Police in the exercise crackdown on illicit pharmaceuticals.
The Food and Drug Authority Ghana is a National Regulatory Authority mandated by the public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851) to regulate food, drugs, food supplements, herbal and homeopathic medicines, veterinary medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, household chemical substances, tobacco and tobacco products.
“This one was seized from a single shop at Alabar, and we have a number of them out there as was seen in our exercise last week, and we are currently collaborating with the police to ensure that products that are not registered will be gotten rid of”, The regional head of the FDA, Mr John Laryea Oddai Tettey, told journalists during the exercise.
However, he advised consumers to be avoid self-medication habit. “The advice to consumers is to get a proper diagnosis and visit the hospital and get a prescription and buy from licensed shops, and you are not to buy medicines like toffees. You don’t buy medicine that is being hawked because, in case of anything, it is difficult to trace and apprehend the culprits.”
