ABSTRACT
This project looks into
the level to which consumers are protected in drug marketing in Nigeria.
This main objective
that motivate this work is that concern 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 administered questionnaire interviewed schedule and
observation. The chi-square was used in testing hypothesis.
The major findings were
that: Despite efforts by the government to ensure safety in the drug market is
still infested with unscrupulous drug manufacturers. 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 meant to protect are not well acquainted with the incapable
of taking adequate action in the event of default.
Based on the findings,
the following recommendations were made.
1) The government should work closely into the
activities of the task force set up to tackle offenders and fake drugs
miscellaneous decree) to include the hawking of drugs in the bus as an offence.
2) The motor park guards who ordinary are not laws
enforcing agents should be given authority to impound any person selling drug
in form of hawking or in an open place with the park.
3) Government should formulate an education
programmed amend at the consumers and his right in the market.
4) Consumers’ relationship with the police and the
public complaints commissioner should be improved for the government to achieve
the aim of educating drug faking in the country.
5) Ti is also concluded in the hypothesis test of
result that the drug market is not safe for consumer of drug in the country and
the activities of patent and proprietary medicine dealers affects the consumers
of drug.
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 consumers’ safety in the drug market.
LIST
OF TABLES
Table 2A: Source of drug for consumers
Table 2B: Consumer contact with fake drugs
Table 2C: Consumer ability to recognize fake drugs
Table 2D: Sources of fake drugs identified by consumers
Table 2E: Willingness of consumer to report of fake
drug to police
Table 2F: Consumer awareness (knowledge) of enacted
law on drug
Table: Pharmacist
awareness (knowledge) of law on drugs
Table Purchase of fake drugs by the pharmacist
Table testing of drugs on second purchase
Table Treatment of patients by apprentice or
workers
Table Trading drugs classified as poison
Table Testing of drug before purchase
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Statement of Problems
1.3 Objectives of the Study
1.4 Hypothesis of the Study
1.5 Significance of the Study
1.6 Definition of Terms.
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Historical Dimension/Origin of Consumer
Protection
2.2 Basic for Consumer Protection.
2.3 Marketing Concept on Consumer
2.4 The Nigerian Consumer
2.5 Consumers Protection in Nigeria
2.6 Some Forms of Consumer Protection in Nigeria.
2.7 Some Laws that Enhance Consumer Protection
2.8 The Role of NAFDAC in Ensuring Customer
Protection
CHAPTER THREE:
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Source of Data
3.2 Research Instruments Used.
3.3 Population of the Study
3.4 Sampling Technique
3.5 Determination of the Sample Size
3.6 Method of Questionnaire Distribution
3.7 Method of Data Analysis
3.8 Limitation of the Study
CHAPTER
FOUR: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS
AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
4.1 Presentation and Analysis of Data
4.2 Test of hypothesis
CHAPTER
FIVE: SUMMARY OF
FINDING, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
5.1 Summary of Finding
5.2 Recommendations
5.3 Conclusion.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDIX.
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 cannel of commitment to the consumer, as time goes on, it will
depend largely on the extent it succeeds in enhancing the quality of consumers
judgements, and in maintaining fair competitive conditions that allows
customers to make free and informed choices between various alternative.
This will involve
making available to consumers 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 tot heir own self
regulatory codes, however, legislation should be kept at a level and only
enacted as a last resort providing successful, real consumers judgement 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 consumer 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 freedom of a consumer choice or the means of
developing their powers of judgments.
Based on this preview, we will be investigating the level of
protection offered to use of drugs by government and manufacturers considering
such law and ethics controlling and regulating the 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 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, stronger 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.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COMPANY
Juhel Company Limited
has been in the manufacturing and distribution/sales of drugs in the country
for the past eighteen years (18).
This company (Juhel
Pharmaceutical) is located or has it’s head office at 35 Nkwubor Road
Emene. The Director name is Chief Ifeanyi Okoye. This company also
engage 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, Ampicllox, Vitamin C white
and orange colour, Babimol paracetamol for children, Pastin extra for headache,
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 from labeling to utilization
of buster 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 instances
where law quality, adulterated, inferior or even fake product are sold to consumers
as genuine of real ones. 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, others are poisons which must not be obtained without prescription by an
expert. The patent medicine dealers are licensed to sell only the
(O.T.C) category. But many of them sell those in the poison
category because according to them, that is where the profit is.
In view of these, the
researcher is concerned with determining the safety of a citizen of the country
in consumption or usage of drug.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE
STUDY
The
objectives of this study are to:
1) Ascertain how safe the drug market is for the
users in the country.
2) How much the government is involved in ensuring
safety in the drug market.
3) To probe into the activities of companies in the
light of marketing concept.
4) How the activities of patient medicine dealers
affect the safety of consumer of drug
1.4 TESTING OF HYPOTHESIS
Within the framework of the above objectives the following
hypotheses have been put forward:
Ho: The drug market is safe for consumer of drug in
the country.
Hi: The drug market is safe for consumer of drug in
the country.
Ho: Activities of the patent medicine dealers affect the
safety of consumer of drugs.
Hi: Activities of patent medicine dealers do not
affect the safety of consumers of drug.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
This study is of immense benefit to the manufacturers or producers
of drug, seller, consumer of drugs, government and to the researcher as well.
Firstly, producers will benefit from this study so as to improve
upon and control their marketing strategies.
Secondly, the sellers of drug will adopt better marketing methods
to the needs and wants of their prospective consumers which will eventually
enhance opportunity for realizing greater profit.
Thirdly, the study will educate the consumers on their rights in
the markets as stipulated in the laws.
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.
Finally, it will help the researcher to know the reason for
un-safety in the drug market.
Department | Education |
Project ID Code | EDU0436 |
Chapters | 5 Chapters |
No of Pages | 85 pages |
Methodology | Chi Square |
Reference | YES |
Format | Microsoft Word |
Price | ₦4000, $15 |
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Contact Us On | +2347043069458 |