Pharmaceutical authentication in Nigeria: importers' and manufacturers' perspectives on mobile authentication services
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Abstract
Background: In 2012, NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) - the Nigerian foods and medicines regulator - introduced and mandated the use of Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) technology to reduce falsification ('faking') of medicines in Phase I. The MAS processes, perceptions and suggestions of the products' owners need to be investigated.
Objective: This study explored the MAS process, perceptions of importers and manufacturers of medicines (holders of certificates of registration - HCRs) and their suggestions for the way forward.
Methods: Qualitative method guided with the technology acceptance model (TAM) was used. Nine companies graded according to their commercial sizes participated. Transcripts of interviews were coded and analysed.
Results: HCRs bore the costs and were involved in all stages of MAS, but not all HCRs favoured its use. They had divergent perceptions influenced by their commercial sizes. Interest in MAS waned because of problems and reduced publicity. Five MAS service providers assigned a code each, confirmed verification instead of NAFDAC controlling MAS with just one code.
Conclusion: HCRs' perceptions differed in line with their sizes. Problems rendered it unreliable. Forcing MAS on all HCRs and NAFDAC not having the final say, did not look like a good regulatory method.
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