Parliament Wades Into FDA, Tobinco Impasse

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health has stepped into the ongoing wrangling between the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and some drug importing companies. The FDA has in recent times been battling the importers for bringing fake drugs into the country, an allegation that has been denied by some importers and counter-accusing the regulator of witch hunting. It has also been on the heels of some drug manufacturers for failing to register or re-register their drugs before putting them on the market. The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana and some statesmen have raised reservations about what they perceived to be high-handedness of the FDA. Pharmaceutical giant, Tobinco has called on President John Dramani Mahama to intervene in the standoff between it and FDA. A statement signed by the Health Committee�s chairman, Joseph Yieleh Chireh and issued on Thursday said it is undertaking enquiry into the matter. It therefore recommend to all parties to pull a break on the ongoing media war � between pharmaceutical companies, Ghana Health Service and Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana on one hand, and the Food and Drugs Authority on the other. It described the media war as �unnecessary and unhelpful�, and hoped putting a stop to it will create a congenial atmosphere for a peaceful resolution of the issues. The Committee also charged the security agencies working with the FDA to exercise �tact and discreetness� in the discharge of their duties.