TIG Post

Tag: Pharmaceutical

  • Samospharma fights back against allegations of links to opioid suppliers

    Samospharma fights back against allegations of links to opioid suppliers

    Samospharma Limited has categorically denied any links to Aveo Pharmaceutical Pvt. Ltd and Westfin Pharmaceutical Pvt. Ltd, the two firms recently implicated in a BBC investigation into the illicit sale of opioid pills in West Africa.

    The BBC Africa Eye exposé revealed that Aveo Pharmaceuticals, through Westfin International, allegedly exported unapproved opioid-based medications, including tapentadol and carisoprodol, to Ghana, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire.

    These substances, which are highly addictive, pose serious health risks such as respiratory failure and death.

    Following these revelations, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) revoked Aveo Pharmaceuticals’ Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification. Additionally, it instructed Samospharma, a Ghanaian importer, to immediately cease all dealings with Aveo Pharmaceuticals and Westfin International.

    However, Samospharma has pushed back against these claims, asserting that it has no association with the accused companies. The company is demanding a public retraction from the FDA, arguing that the allegations are unfounded and damaging to its reputation.

    “We do not, and never have, engaged in any fraudulent practices as alleged in the BBC report, nor do we associate with entities such as Aveo Pharmaceutical Pvt. Ltd and Westfin Pharmaceutical Pvt. Ltd that engage in such activities.”

    Beyond rejecting any links to Aveo and Westfin, Samospharma also took issue with inaccuracies in the FDA’s statement concerning the manufacturer of Timonidin Eye Drops, an FDA-approved product.

    The company disputed the FDA’s claim that Indiana Ophthalmics LLP was responsible for producing Timonidin Eye Drops, clarifying that this information was incorrect. According to Samospharma, Indiana Ophthalmics LLP has never played a role in the manufacturing of the product. While acknowledging the firm as a respected name in ophthalmic care, Samospharma urged the FDA to review its records and correct the error immediately.

    To support its position, Samospharma provided several documents, including confirmation from Kilitch Drugs (India) Ltd, which stated that it is the actual manufacturer and exporter of Timonidin Eye Drops and Samocef Injection.

    The company also submitted commercial invoices and FDA consignment documents verifying the importation of these products in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, an export invoice and customs bill of entry from Sudarshan Pharma Industries Ltd and the GRA Customs Division confirmed the 2023 importation of Prolatan (Latanoprost) Eye Drops.

    Samospharma has called on the FDA to take immediate steps to correct what it describes as a serious misrepresentation and ensure accurate information is provided to the public.

    In a strongly worded statement, Samospharma has called on the FDA to either present concrete evidence supporting its claims or withdraw them entirely.

  • Partnerships, WHO certification, expanding curriculum among ways to address pharmaceutical industry challenges – Sam Jonah

    Partnerships, WHO certification, expanding curriculum among ways to address pharmaceutical industry challenges – Sam Jonah

    Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital, Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, have outlined five strategies to help the pharmaceutical industry in Ghana overcome its current challenges and become a driver of economic growth in the country.

    Sir Jonah expressed concern about the industry’s logistical and financial issues, which hinder its ability to reach its full economic potential.

    During his speech at the 2023 Annual Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSG) in Takoradi, he emphasized the need for growth, pointing out that Africa’s share of the global pharmaceutical market revenue is less than $60 billion, out of a total of $1 trillion and $482 billion in 2022.

    “With a population of over 1.4 billion currently representing about 17.89% of the global total, Africa accounts for only about 3% of the global pharmaceutical market. Therein lies the opportunity for growth. So what is holding you back?” he said.

    To address the industry’s challenges, Jonah recommended a collaborative approach involving the general public, local investors, and the government. This collaboration should focus on promoting investments in the pharmaceutical sector through joint ventures.

    “The entrepreneurial and risk-aggressive among you must move decisively to form partnerships with established foreign companies with the purpose of acquiring much-needed technology and liquidity through foreign direct investment,” he said.

    Sir Jonah emphasized the need for pharmaceutical manufacturing companies to modernize their production facilities and attain WHO certification.

    “Aggressively pursue capacity-building to enable more members of the PSG to obtain WHO certification. This is the surest way to firstly retool and re-establish to meet local demand, and then work to export to the sub-region and beyond,” he said.

    Sam Jonah further called for a curriculum overhaul.

    “Improve and expand the curriculum at the seven existing schools of pharmacy in Ghana, and use technical experts from industry as resource persons to provide the needed skills and competencies locally.”

    On a regional level, he stressed the importance of pharmaceutical associations collaborating with their counterparts in Africa and engaging with ministries to promote trade liberalization and ratify agreements that facilitate and strengthen free trade throughout the continent.

    “Your leadership and your African counterparts and respective sector Ministries must work purposefully with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for liberalization of trade rules and signing and ratification of regional agreements that enhance free trade in Africa. This will inure to the growth of your sector,” he said.

    Finally, he emphasized the need for collective advocacy, rigorous enforcement, and increased involvement in public affairs to raise awareness about the proliferation of substandard drugs in the market.

    “Our sub-region currently carries the highest prevalence of dumping of fake and substandard medicine. For every hundred medicines, 18.7 of our people are fake or sub-standard. PricewaterhouseCoopers found that approximately one million people die annually, with nearly half a million being preventable malaria deaths caused by toxic counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Who imports and sells these medicines? Are they pharmacists too?

    “The World Customs Organisation reported that nearly $200 billion worth of fake and potentially harmful pharmaceuticals are sold yearly around the world. Hundreds of thousands of children die from the administration of counterfeits or medicines below accepted standards. Are we sacrificing human life for money?

    “Are we covering up for murderers? Where is the outrage? Do we truly care about the health of our people? Where are the concerned and courageous Pharmacists among you who will speak up? In dire situations like this and many others in our homeland Ghana, I entreat you as individuals, and as a society to remember: Silence is not an option,” he said.

  • Cedi instability: Pharmaceutical companies withdraw credit services, cash and carry only

    The Pharmaceutical Industry in Ghana has disclosed its decision to stop supplying drugs and medications to health facilities across the country on credit basis as a result of the instability of the Ghana cedi.

    At a press conference in Accra Thursday, October 20, 202, the Pharma Industry noted that the decision which takes immediate effect will affect the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

    The three major players in the sector, the Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy, the Pharmaceutical Association of Ghana, and the Pharmaceutical Importers and Wholesalers Association of Ghana stressed that the current depreciation of the cedi against the dollar has compelled them to change their approach to business.

    President of the Pharmaceutical Importers and Wholesalers Association, William Adum Addo stressed that the instability of the Ghana cedi might affect the quality of drugs on the market.

    “The effect of medicine prices will not only result in challenges with medicine availability and accessibility but most importantly the quality of life of Ghanaians because we all know health is wealth. They cannot afford the exorbitantly high cost of medicine … very soon a sizable number of industry players may be forced to fold up or lay off staff,” he said.

    According to the Chairman of Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy, Harrison Abutiate, major players have had to cough up huge sums of money to import drugs and other materials needed for the production of medicines.

    The groups urged the government to release all outstanding debts owed its members to prevent the shortage of products in the country.