(LINA) -The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has re-stated its commitment to support to the Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA) in the fight against counterfeit drugs in the country.
USAID Mission Director Anthony Chan, making remarks Thursday at a Post Marketing Surveillance Six Dissemination Round Meeting in Monrovia, said the increasing recognition of the prevalence of poor quality medical products in low and middle-income countries, including Liberia, and the threat it poses to public health is of serious concern and as such USAID is committed to helping in the fight against the growing menace.
According to Chan, falsified and substandard medicines have for decades undermined the investments of the USAID and other partners to the health sector of Liberia.
“Counterfeit drugs are not just a waste to scarce resources but also a risk to public health such as treatment failure, adverse patient’s reaction, drugs resistance and an increase in mortality,” Chan said.
He, however, called on LMHRA and the National Drug Authority to increase their vigilance against counterfeit and substandard medicines in the country.
“We are particularly gratified by the success we have achieved with our Liberian partners in enhancing the LMHRA’s capacity to operate and maintain a post-marketing surveillance system that monitors the quality of medicines on the Liberian market,” Chan stated.
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