Anambra State House of Assembly has passed a motion making it an offence to hawk drug on streets or markets in the state.
Sponsoring the motion, the member representing Awka South One Constituency, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor said the bill sought to stop such hawking since the drugs might not have been tested nor the source and content known.
Mr. Okafor said that any drug advertisement should obtain advert permit and license from National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC).
The member representing Anambra East, in the state Assembly Pharmacist Obinna Emeneka maintained that some of these drugs could be sub-standard as they did not pass through testing to certify their efficacy.
Pharmacist Emenaka emphasised that hawkers expose these drugs to the sun, causing degradation of the drugs which could harm the body organs especially the liver and kidney.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Barrister Rita Mmaduagwu later called for voice vote and the bill was referred to two committees to report back in two weeks.
The two committees were House committee on Health and House committee on Judiciary.
Barrister Mmaduagwu said the bill was referred to the committees to ensure professional, legal and sound input before final passage into law.
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