It came to me as a surprise to hear that Government has baned most of the drugs we can afford to buy, mostly for the treatment of malaria and other problems. But my fear is, will the local companies be able produce the drugs in enough quantities for our need?

Solo2, thanks for pointing this out.

The banned drugs are:
»- Paracetamol tablets and syrups.
»- Cotrimoxazole tablets and syrups.
»- Metronidazole tablets and syrups.
»- Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine tablets
»- Chloroquine tablets and syrups
»- Heamatinic tablets (such as ferrous sulphate and ferrous gluconate and folic acid tablets)
»- Vitamin B complex tablets (except modified release formulations)
»- Multivitamin Tablets, capsules and syrups (except special formulations)
»- Aspirin tablets (except modified release formulations and soluble aspirin)
»- Magnesium Trisilicate tablets and suspensions.
»- Piperazine tablets and syrups.
»- Levamisole tablets and syrups.
»- Clotrimazole cream
»- Ampicillin/Cloxacillin combinations.
»- Ointment-penicilin/gentamycin
»- Intravenous Fluid (dextrose, normal saline)
»- Pyrantel Pamoate tablets and syrups
»- Disinfectants and Germicides.

So should these drugs have been banned? please invite doctors and pharmacists to the forum so they can give us more informed opinion!

hi, it's me again

Just wondering if there are any links to newspaper sites etc that can confirm these bannings, as they include many products i would bring from australia for things like maleria prevention and head ache treatment etc.

Though they didn't even look in my bag that had my medicines in it at lagos when i was there 3 weeks ago

I copied the above list verbatim from the first page of this week's Sunday Guardian. I couldn't get a link on the web.

In real case it is the importation of these drugs that was banned, but I still insist that our local drug manufacturing companies will not be able to meet up with the demand locally.

omg that is bad . nigerian's can't even produce very effective medication (minus the herbs)

This is extremely sad. I was happy that NIgerians have medicines to cure malaria..and here they are, banning chloroquine!!!

Seun,
What was the govt's excuse for such an action.I guess they banned the importation,not use of the drugs!Angel,Chloroquine is no longer effective for malaria(caused by P.Falciparium),common in Nigeria, and most of Africa.New drugs,very expensive has been introduced-Combination of Fansidar and Artesunate. Most of the drugs on the list are important for everyday medical practice,but could be readily produced in Nigeria(govt thnking I believe).Banning them is an attempt to encourage local production.But will this work?! It would only lead to them being more expensive,and open the way for fake drugs-unless adequate measures are taken. Seun,you may have to give us an update of what the drug companies are saying about this!If they can produce HIV drugs,then these should not be a problem!

Don't mind our govt. I still prescribe most of these drugs as there's nothing wrong with them per se.

If you want to ban these drugs then provide alternatives to getting this drugs for common men's affordable.

Our govt. is myopic and does not have interst in poor men.

What a pity.