To ensure pharmaceutical companies embrace the anti-counterfeiting technologies, the National Agency for Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has enlisted Pharmasecure and UBQT to provide the Mobile Authentication Service, MAS, technology.

This is coming on the heels of an ultimatum to drug manufacturers to ensure that all antimalaria drugs adopt the technology or face sanction.

Pharmasecure, an Indian anti-counterfeiting technology provider and UBQT have joined the two existing MAS technology providers, the American-based Sproxil Company and M-pedigree being promoted by a Ghanian company.

Announcing this at a stakeholders consultative meeting in Lagos, Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii said the enlistment of the companies has broadened access, alternative choices and levelled the playing field for pharmaceutical companies expected to embrace the anti-counterfeiting technologies.

Orhii disclosed that five MAS technology providers would be enlisted at the first instance implying that there was still room for one additional technology provider since four have already been engaged.

He reiterated NAFDAC's determination to rid the country of counterfeit drugs and unwholesome food through the use of cutting - edge technologies such as MAS (scratch and text), TRUSCAN (hand held device), Radio Frequency Identification Service (RFID) and Deep Infra Red among others and urged all pharmaceutical companies yet to adopt the MAS technology to do so.