African Drug Distributors Seek Joint Action Against Fake Medicines

LAGOS, Nigeria – African pharmaceutical distributors are calling for stronger cross-border cooperation among governments and regulators to tackle the circulation of falsified and substandard medicines across the continent.

The Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (PWDAN) and the African Pharmaceutical Distributors Association (APDA) made the call on Tuesday ahead of the 4th APDA Thematic General Assembly, scheduled for October 6 to 8, 2026, in Lagos.

The assembly will focus on “Advancing Pharmaceutical Distribution in Africa: Building Secure Supply Chains Against Falsified Medicines.”

Speaking at a press conference, PWDAN National Chairman, Pharm. Ogheneochuko Omaruaye, said the movement of medicines across national borders made regional cooperation essential to protecting pharmaceutical supply chains, adding that the problem could not be effectively addressed by individual countries acting alone.

Omaruaye said PWDAN had consistently advocated the implementation of Nigeria’s New Drug Distribution Guidelines, adding that existing policies needed stronger enforcement.

The forthcoming assembly is expected to produce a Lagos Declaration on Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Integrity, alongside an action framework covering traceability, authentication technology and supply-chain security.

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Mirian Gom

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Gom Mirian AHR Senior Correspondent, has over 8 years’ experience reporting on health, crime, education, investigations, and development issues across Nigeria and Africa. With dual degrees in Economics, she combines analytical skill with compelling storytelling. Widely recognised for her public health and humanitarian reporting, she earned a Nestlé Award nomination for compelling human-interest journalism. Follow her on Twitter @mirian_linus.

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