) Discuss your understanding of the US healthcare finance system (or another country of your choice). Please mention your health research topic to date and interest pertaining to costs, treatments, etc. Support your thoughts by discussing challenges pertaining to financing and offer your professional opinion on solutions. OR 2) Choose a regulatory agency related to health and discuss how it is related to your research issue and how such regulation supports the current system, much that is under some phase of reform.

The regulatory agency in charge of food and drug administration in Nigeria is called NAFDAC, which is the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control will be discussed. This body was "regulates and controls the manufacturing, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals, detergents, medical devices and packaged water (Known as regulated products)" ("NAFDAC Act", n.d.).

Established under Decree 15 and later Decree 19, to safeguard the Public Health of the nation, through ensuring quality of products both from within and without. It is the equivalent of the American F.D.A. (Food and Drug Administration). World Health Assembly resolution of 1988 inspired the creation of NAFDAC which replaced a flailing and ineffective predecessor called Directorate of Food and Drug Administration and Control in January 1994. ("National Agency for Food and Drug", n.d.). In its 24years of existence, NAFDAC has had just some years of competitive functionality, words synonymous with ‘failure’ has been spouted about  NAFDAC. 

The height of this functionality was during the leadership of Dr D. Akinyuli under the Obasanjo democratic regime, when the government parastatal made a dent in the war against fake drugs. For example since then there have been “the fight against counterfeit drugs, as evidenced by the public destruction of about 2 billion Naira worth of drugs from four sources;  NAFDAC destroyed eleven containers of fake drugs worth over nine billion naira with assistance of Nigerian Customs Service; etcetera (“National Agency for Food and Drug")

There have been many crackdowns on such illicit activities and they have been powered by three main policies which are •“The outright ban on the importation of drugs and other regulated products through land borders.•The designation of Calabar and Apapa sea ports, Murtala Muhammed and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airports as exclusive ports of entry for the importation of drugs and pharmaceutical raw materials.•Release of shipping and cargo manifests by the Nigerian Ports Authority.” These were amended policies from 2001. The current dispensation is less active is righting the course of the errant ship that is NAFDAC, due to prevalent corruption in the system.

According to Olike, “The problems of fake drug proliferation in Nigeria have affected the credibility of the Healthcare system and can exert very harmful effects on the consumer resulting to illness; disability and even death and anyone can be a victim” (Olike, 2008). 

There are certain factors that influence the rampant spread of fake drugs and they are: non-professionals in drug business, chaotic drug distribution network, poor implementation of existing drug laws, ignorance, inefficient cooperation between stakeholders, corruption and greed, high cost of good quality drugs and demand exceeding supply. (Olike)

Another factor that can influence the rise in fake drugs is self medication, this may result from inability of the individual to seek professional help when sick either due to cash constraints, absence of healthcare facilities or ignorance. 

Despite the seizures and destruction of fake drugs on a constant basis more spring up like hydra-headed monsters, this shows an unending influx of investment into the illegal trade, hence its clear there must high returns and easy market entry for the participants. The ineffectiveness of the NAFDAC in carrying out its primary assignment, renders the already untrusted Nigerian healthcare system even less trustworthy which makes quality care all the more harder for Nigerians to attain.

Reference

Azubuike, V. (2017). NAFDAC destroys 11 Containers of Fake Drugs. Retrieved from http://dailypost.ng/2017/01/25/nafdac-destroys-11-containers-fake-drugs/

"NAFDAC Act" (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.nafdac.gov.ng/index.php/about-nafdac/nafdac-act 

“National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)” (

Retrieved from https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=NAFDAC

Olike C. (2008). The Fight Against Fake Drugs By NAFDAC in Nigeria. Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/documents/s18405en/s18405en.pdf