The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has not registered any pharmaceutical product containing tapentadol for use in Ghana, making its sale and possession illegal, the health minister has said.
Responding to questions in Parliament, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said the government is stepping up regulatory and public health interventions to address the illicit sale and misuse of dangerous opioids. This includes the street drug known as “red” – a combination of tapentadol and cough syrup.
Mr Akandoh told the House that the drug is not recognized for medical use in the country.
“Presently the FDA has not registered any pharmaceutical product containing tapentadol either alone or in combination with other active ingredients for medical use in Ghana,” he stated.
“Tapentadol and tapentadol containing products are not in the essential medicine list neither are they in any of our treatment guidelines. Consequently the sale, distribution or possession of such product is illegal.”
The minister said the FDA and the Pharmacy Council are conducting regular surveillance of retail and wholesale pharmacies to detect unregistered opioids.
These inspections aim to ensure controlled substances are supplied in line with approved guidelines to reduce the risk of diversion and unauthorized access.
“Surveillance activities are also used to sensitize retailers on the dangers of opioid misuse and abuse,” he said.
“Unregistered products found during market surveillance are seized, safely disposed and further regulatory sanctions issued to the offenders.”
Mr Akandoh reiterated that because the drug is neither registered by the FDA nor included in Ghana’s treatment guidelines, any importation remains a criminal offence.
“I have earlier on stated it’s unapproved, it’s unregistered and it’s not part of our treatment guidelines and so any importation of such drug is illegal,” he stated.
The health ministry, through the Ghana Health Service, is now intensifying public education on the dangers of illicit drugs to help curb misuse.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana