UNREGISTERED HERBAL DRUG SALES: LASCOPA TEAM VISITS TRADITIONAL MEDICINE BOARD

In a bid to curb the rampant sales of unregistered herbal drugs, particularly on social media platforms, the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB) on Thursday aimed at fostering collaboration between the two agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of Lagos residents and Nigeria at large. 

During the meeting, Mr. Afolabi Solebo, the General Manager of LASCOPA emphasised the growing concern over the proliferation of unregistered and potentially harmful herbal medicines being marketed online. He noted that the ease of access to these unregulated products poses significant health risks to consumers.

“The rise in the number of unregistered herbal drugs being sold on social media platforms is alarming. Many of these products have not undergone the necessary safety evaluations, and their efficacy is often questionable. This not only endangers public health but also undermines the credibility of genuine traditional medicine practitioners”, said Solebo.

Prince Babatunde Adele, the Registrar of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB), welcomed the initiative and expressed the Board’s readiness to collaborate with LASCOPA. He highlighted the importance of regulating the traditional medicine sector to ensure that practitioners adhere to established standards and that only safe, approved products are made available to the public.

“We are committed to upholding the integrity of traditional medicine in Lagos State. By working closely with LASCOPA, we can strengthen our regulatory frameworks and take decisive action against those who flout the rules. Our goal is to protect consumers and promote the use of authentic and safe herbal medicines and also ensure that traditional medicine users are sincere with their practice”, Adele stated.

Both agencies agreed to set up a joint technical committee to map out strategies to regulate the safe sales of herbal products and traditional practices particularly on social media platforms. The technical committee will identify and take action against vendors who sell unregistered products, ensuring that they are either brought into compliance or removed from the market space.

Additionally, the Agencies plan to launch public awareness campaigns to educate consumers about the dangers of unregistered herbal drugs and the importance of purchasing products from reputable sources. They also aim to provide a platform for consumers to report suspicious products and vendors.

While briefing the visiting team earlier on the activities of LSTMB and the concerted effort made so far since the establishment of the Board in 1980 which dwells exclusively on the regulation of the code of conduct for traditional medicine practice in Lagos State, the coordinating Director, Research Training and Development, Mr. Hakeem Bello reiterated the fact that traditional medicine scope has been broaden to include complementary and alternative since it includes traditional medicine which has its root in a particular indigenous culture.

The courtesy visit marks the beginning of a concerted effort to safeguard public health and maintain the standards of traditional medicine in Lagos State. With the combined efforts of LASCOPA and LSTMB, it is hoped that the issue of unregistered herbal drugs will be effectively addressed, ensuring a safer marketplace for all consumers.