The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhi? said at the? weekend that? the Federal Government was concerned over the country’s dependence on foreign countries for essential drugs.
He said that it was in response to this that the government? adopted strategies that would enhance the local production of drugs as a matter of national security.
The NAFDAC boss pointed out that the standard and quality of drugs produced locally led to an increase in imported drugs into the country and noted that that process has improved with the availability of affordable and standard locally made drugs.
Orhi said these while addressing a stakeholders’ forum organised by NAFDAC? in Yenagoa to enlighten people on regulated drugs.
He wondered what would have been the fate of Nigeria if such countries had failed to supply the essential drugs and added that about 70 per cent of drugs consumed in the country were imported from India and China while an undisclosed percentage arrived the country from USA
“It is a shame that despite parading herself as the giant of Africa, Nigeria could not boast of a pharmaceutical company with World Health Organisation pre-qualification license.
“Lack of such qualification had made it impossible for international donors in the health sector to buy locally made drugs for distribution in their various areas of medical interventions,” Orhi said and added that President? Jonathan had launched a programme to reform the sector.
The NAFDAC boss? also said that the president had ordered notable pharmaceutical companies in the country to embark on capacity building aimed at producing essential medicine of international standard.
He said, “availability of affordable drugs to Nigerians is a matter of national security. We have asked pharmaceutical companies to expand their capacity and to produce essential medicine of international standard for Nigerians.
“The agency in collaboration with the Bank of Industry initiated a N200billion pharmaceutical development fund aimed at providing financial support to the industry.
“The fund was also designed to enable companies attain WHO certification and obtain prequalification of their products.
Seven of the companies had undergone the WHO prequalification exercise.
The N200 billion pharmaceutical development fund is aimed at providing financial support to the industry to enable them attain WHO certification and obtain prequalification of their products.
This support of the industry will enable them provide essential medicines to the citizenry, boost the economy and provide jobs for Nigerians”.