Beef up security at the borders to fight Tramadol abuse – Gov’t  told

Registrar of Ghana Pharmacy Council, Pharmacist Dr. Audu Rauf, has called on the government to as a matter of urgency beef up security at the various borders across the country in the fight against abuse of Tramadol.

He said the insufficiencies of security personnel at the borders makes it difficult to do thorough investigations in identifying the unregistered and unapproved higher strength tramadol, popularly known as tramol that has become popular among the youth.

“We don’t produce tramadol in Ghana, and what Food and Drug Authority approves only 50mg and 100mg so anything apart from the two, passed illegal channels and you can bare with me we dont have enough security personnel to protect our borders” Dr. Audu stated.

He made this call during a special meeting organised by the Ashanti Regional Pharmacy Council and Over-The-Counter Medicines Sellers at Kumasi under the theme “Fighting  Against Drug Misuse (Tramadol)”.

Dr. Audu Rauf added that  though there is no scientific research that has proved that the security personnel in the various borders are compromising the importation laws of unapproved and unregistered tramadol, its massive presence in the country tells it all.

However, Dr. Audu Rauf urged Ghanaians not to panic as they are collaborating with all the security agencies in the country to fight the canker.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana has cautioned the general public on the proliferation of the painkiller, Tramadol.

The society said although the drug is approved for the management of severe pain, the rapid increase in its use by the youth is worrying.

Meanwhile, a statement by the Pharmaceutical Society copied to otecfmghana.com indicates that “the strengths approved for tramadol use in Ghana by the FDA are the 50mg and 100mg oral capsules”, not 200mg/250mg as it has found to be circulating in the market in the country.

Source: otecfmghana.com/ Kwaku Anane Jnr