CONSUMER PROTECTION AND DRUG MARKETING IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF JUHEL PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY, ENUGU)
ABSTRACT
These projects look into the level to which consumers are protected in drug marketing in Nigeria.
This main objective that motivate this work is that concerns to ascertain how safe the market for drugs is for the users of drugs considering the nature of drugs and it’s resultants effect on the users.
A variety of minor objectives exist and they include among others the investigation on how much the government involved in ensuring safety in the drug market probing into the activities of drug companies in the light of marketing concept and determining how the activities of patent medicine dealers affect that safety of consumers of drugs.
Secondary and primary data were used for this study. The main instruments employed in the collection of data are self administrated questionnaires interviewed schedule and observation.
The major finding were that; despite efforts by the government to ensure safety in the drug market is still infested with unscrupulous drug manufactures and dealers who pay little or no regard all to the law.
It was also found out that most of them are not acquainted with these laws. The consumers whom the laws are mean to protect are not well acquainted with the incapables of taking adequate action is the event of default.
Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made:
In conclusion the level of consumers protection in drug marketing is not impressive. A greater effort is needed on the part of the government to address the issue of consumer’s safety in the drug market.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.1 Background of the Study 1
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
Consumer Protection 35
3.3 Population of the Study 38
3.4 Sampling Technique 39
3.5 Determination of Sample Size 39
3.6 Method of Questionnaire Distribution 43
3.7 Limitation of the Study 44
4.1 Presentation of Data 45
4.2 Interpretation of Data 45
5.2 Recommendations 71
5.3 Conclusion 79
Bibliography 81
Appendix 83
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Consumer protection is more and more becoming a topical issue in this country. Consumers in Nigeria is constantly abused but had permanently remained unresponsive to various forms of trade malpractices distributed by sellers/producers.
The efficiency of marketing as a channel of commitment to the consumers as time goes on, it will depend largely on the extent it succeeds in enhancing the quality of consumers judgments and in maintaining fair competitive conditions that allows customers to make free and informed choices between various alternative.
This will involve making available to consumer much more relevant product and serves information for example performance and safety in use unit pricing and conditions of contract. It also means that business men on their own part must accept that the maintenance of fair competitive market condition and safeguarding of consumers rights cannot be left entirely to their own self regulatory codes, however. Legislation should be kept at a level and only enacted as a last resort providing successful real consumers judgment in the market place has to do with a determined effort to ensure that consumer understand their rights under existing law. This will involve extensive consumers education on the enacted legislation self-regulating codes of practice and adverse publicity for those who transgress such codes. This however will not be enhanced by removing from consumer the necessity to make their own decision or by imposing on the market condition, which limits the freedoms of a consumer choice or the means of developing their powers of judgments.
Based on this preview we be investigating the level of protection offered to use of drugs by government & organization involved in drug marketing (drug dispensing and distribution). This is because of the importance of drugs to the life of the people. A drug can help or destroy a person’s life. It is defined as “a chemical agent that affects the function of living things”. Drugs are used in preventing treating and diagnosing diseases.
The investigation also extend to how in case of low level of protection, stranger protective measure could be endured in order have honest marketing practice in the drug industry and ensure healthy usage or consumption of drugs in the country.
In order to accomplish this study Juhel Pharmaceutical Company has been selected as a case organization.
Juhel company limited has been in the manufacturing and distributed/sales of drugs in the country for the past eighteen years (20)
This company (Juhel Pharmaceutical) is located has it’s head office at 35 Nkwubor road Emene the director name is Chief Ifyeanyi Okoye. This company also engages in other business activities example (Juhel filling station) Juhel company activities cover the thirty six states of the federation
Juhel specialized mainly on septrin for children Juhel paracetamol Ampillox Vitamin c white & orange colour, Babimol Paracetamol for children pastin extra for head each pain relief and folic acid the company uses the services of distributors wholesalers and direct distribution by company’s sales force. In guarding against adulteration of their drugs the company quality control dept adopt measures such as manipulation of packaging material ranging form labeling to utilization of blister packs
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Over the years the Nigeria consumers has been subjected to various forms of trade malpractices by the producers/ sellers. There have been instance where law quality, adulterated inferior or even take product are sold to consumers as genuine of one’s let us consider the following cases. The case of trader selling chalk as Asprin IPA as methylated spirit.
Drugs all over the country are categorized some are called over the counter (O.T.C) drugs other are poisons which must not be obtained without prescription by an expert. But many of them sell those as OTC category because according to them, that is well the profit is not summoned.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of this study are to.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What factors do Juhel Pharmaceutical contributes to the fake and adulteration of drugs?
2. What problems do Juhel Pharmaceutical encounter with your customers?
3. Have Juhel Pharmaceutical encountered a case of either fake or substandard drugs before?
4. Do Juhel Pharmaceutical sell their ethical product strictly with the doctor’s prescription?
5. What factors do Juhel Pharmaceutical contributes to the fake and adulteration of drugs?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
This study is of immense benefit to the manufactures of producers of drug sellers consumer of drugs government and to the researcher as well.
Firstly producer will benefit from this study so as to improve upon and control their marketing strategies.
Secondly the sellers of drug will adopt betters marketing methods to the needs and wants of their prospective consumers, which will eventually enhance opportunity for realizing greater profit.
Again, it will help the government to know why the drug market is still infested with unscrupulous drug producers and dealers despite all their efforts to ensure safety.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
Basically every research topic always have a scope of coverage. This study will consist of the analysis of various decree enacted by the government with regards to the manufactures sale and dispensing of drugs some of these decrees include the food and drug decree 1974, price control decree 1977 pharmacists act 1965 and counterfeit and take drug decree 1988. the analysis also extend to such law that relate to setting up of patent medicine shops establishment of nursing profession and other laws deemed relevant to the study.
Assessment is made on the works of writers on consumer protection like. Development of consumers law and policy bold spirit and timorous souls” by Bonie and Gordon. It consist of the roles played by health bodies in the country, in ensuring healthy production and consumption of drug like the pharmaceutical society of Nigeria (P.S.N) Nigeria medical association (N.M.A) national agency for food and drug administration and control.(NA.F.D.A.C) federal environmental protection agency (F.E.P.A) drugs law enforcement agency (N.D.I.E.A) and federal and state ministries of health (represented by Abia state ministry of health Umuahia)
The scope also extends to an enquiry into the disposition of distributors on ensuring the safety of the consumers in the market and methods adopted by manufacturers in order to ensure the availability of the right kind of drugs in the market and safe consumption. The scope of the study also extend to the activities of consumers in ensuring safety in the use of these drugs.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
The part of this project deals with some words (terminology) which the reader may find difficult to understand.
Protection – The state of being protected, to make sure that some body or something is not harmed, inured or damaged.
Efficiency – Act of doing things well
Regulate – A stipulated control over something.
Malpractice – Careless, wrong or illegal doing of things.
Adulterated – To make something less pure by adding another substance to it.
| 1 - 5 of 96 Reviews |