ADDISS ABABA- Ministry of Health said that Ethiopia is working aggressively to apply electronic Regulatory Information system (eRIS) to improve food and drug safety with its “AIDS Free” project.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) in collaboration with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the AIDS Free Project has introduced eRIS to improve food and safety program.
The Ministry indicated that the program will be implemented by Ethiopia Food and Drug Administration (EFDA).
Minister of Health, Dr. Amir Aman, said the system will be used by EFDA to expand access to quality health services and products to all Ethiopians.
The implementation of the electronic system will help EFDA to conduct its inspections systematically and ease the previous burdens of Food, Medicine and Health Care Administration and Control Authority (FMHACA).
He furthermore noted that, the electronic Regulatory Information System will provide service to all administration levels throughout the country and EFDA will have a regulatory, drug distribution and other responsibilities.
According to Dr. Amir, the system will sustain Ministry effort in areas of health strategy and transfer sector`s commitment towards health provision.
Amir said, the system will facilitate the “Information Revolution” which is one of the core values of the Ministry. What is more, it will help to identify and control the amount and the quality of medicines that are circulated in the market and drug stores.
USAID Ethiopia, Country Health Office Deputy Director, Sophia Brewer said, USAID and its partner John Snow Inc. (JSI) are supporting this project and they have been working with the Ministry of Health for the past 25 years.
Sophia noted that the EFDA will have responsibility to manage, facilitate and control the distributions of drugs in the market.
What is more, the system will enable EFDA to register applicants, control illegal drugs and monitor the market Sophia said.
The registration processes also have a key role to ensure transparency and easy access to drugs. Using the system, both EFDA and applicants will exchange information.
The Ethiopian Herald April 7/2019
The Ethiopian Herald April 7/2019
BY MUSSA MUHAMMED
