The Kwara State Government has inaugurated a multi-sectional and multidisciplinary committee to check the activities of fake and counterfeit drug peddlers in the state.

Inaugurating the task force at the weekend at the data bank of the Ministry of Health, the commissioner of the ministry, Alhaji Kayode Issa, explained that the task force  would have the responsibility of monitoring the activities of drug manufacturing companies, wholesalers, retailers, patient medicine shops and drug hawkers.

Issa said the need to sanitize the sector made the state government to earmark a substantial amount in this year’s budget to fight the menace of fake drugs in the state.

According to him, the present administration is interested in promoting the health of the people in the state, which has led to the refurbishment of many hospitals, recruitment of various medical staff as well as consultants.

The commissioner described a fake drug as a copy of an original drug that is made to deceive people, adding that counterfeit drugs are similar to drug substances of low quality.

“When fake and counterfeit drugs are consumed, the patient is not likely to get well because the patient is consuming the wrong drug or no drug at all,” he noted.

Issa further stated that drug hawking and open market sale of drugs are prohibited by the federal ministry of Health and drugs are in the exclusive list of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He therefore urged the task force to work and perform its assignment with the great zeal for the success of the project.

Responding on behalf of the committee, the Chairman of the task force who doubles as the director of pharmacy of the ministry, Alhaja Risikat Lawal, promised to ensure the success of the project.

On the task force committee are pharmacists, Benu Secretary, Representative of NAFDAC, Dr. Odunaya, member representative of doctors, Hajia Salami, representative of Muslim, Inspector Samuel, representative of police, Mrs. Ojuokaiye representative of Ministry of Justice among others.