The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted prequalification status to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)’s Central Drug Control Laboratory (CDCL) in Yaba, Lagos State.
The Director General of the agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing newsmen in Abuja.
She said WHO prequalification status is a globally recognized badge of honour that attests to the CDCL’s competence in assuring the quality of pharmaceutical products.
She said, “It places CDCL among an elite group of laboratories worldwide known for their excellence in drug analysis.”
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The NAFDAC DG said the prequalification of CDCL ensured that the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines tested and certified by the laboratory meet the highest international standards, noting that this directly translated to improved access to safe and effective medicines for the Nigerian populace.
According to her, CDCL’s new status opens doors to international collaboration with regulatory bodies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and global health organizations.
While saying this collaboration would strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector and contribute to advancing healthcare access in the region, she said the CDCL played a pivotal role in safeguarding public health by ensuring that substandard and counterfeit medicines do not reach the market.
She said, “With WHO prequalification, its impact in this regard will be even more profound, protecting Nigerian patients from potentially harmful products.
“The CDCL plays a pivotal role in safeguarding public health by ensuring that substandard and counterfeit medicines do not reach the market. With WHO Prequalification, its impact in this regard will be even more profound, protecting Nigerian patients from potentially harmful products.”
Prof. Adeyeye said WHO prequalification status could lead to streamlined regulatory processes, facilitating the faster approval of essential medicines in Nigeria and beyond, adding that the prestigious status would enhance NAFDAC’s credibility on the global stage and reinforce the trust of stakeholders, including pharmaceutical manufacturers, healthcare providers, and patients.
She said the recognition of the NAFDAC CDCL by WHO is a significant milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, ensuring that Nigerians have access to high-quality healthcare products.
She stated that the journey towards the milestone started since year 2010, adding “but with renewed efforts and more commitment to attempts by our management and federal government in the last four years, we have finally achieved this goal.”
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