Over 70 percent of drugs utilized in Nigeria’s healthcare system are imported.
The National Association of Industrial Pharmacists (NAIP) has received authorization from the Ebonyi state government over its set-out initiative to develop an integrated pharmaceutical production city in the state. This was said to have been carried out under the control of Engineer David Umahi, a pioneer of infrastructural development. Also, this was reportedly geared towards the private sector’s concerted effort to radically enhance the industrial production of drugs utilized in Nigeria’s healthcare system. According to a report, Nigeria is highly dependent on foreign manufacturers, with over 70 per cent of drugs utilized in the healthcare system imported.
While speaking at the PSN national conference, Ken Onuegbu, NAIP Chairman and Tricare Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Limited, also emphasized this massive project. The federal government has been urged to galvanize the process of turning petrochemicals into precursors for producing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), which will boost the production of drugs in the country. And also, to emplace effective intervention measures to ensure adequate medical security in the country. This is said will, in turn, entice institutional investors and venture capitalists to invest in the pharmaceutical industry.
NAIP and NAPA made significant headway with two distinct products.
As the incumbent administration’s tenure advance to an end, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) is working efficaciously to arm the incoming administration with a robust strategic developmental plan to revitalize and revamp the pharmaceutical industry, which is virtually in a comatose state. This is done as a strategic national economic security agenda, given that the industry places drug security as a paramount issue. To reduce the importation rate, there is a great need to devise radical interventions in the industry to boost local production as well as the distribution of highly efficacious drugs that will be affordable and available widely.
In addition, the National Association of Independent Pharmacists (NAIP) and the National Association of Pharmacists in Academia (NAPA) have made significant headway on two distinct products through their joint research into how to revolutionize the sector and enhance local production. The registration procedure with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and cooperation from the Nigeria Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) are all that stand in the way of completing this milestone.
The project process is coordinated by Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).
Although there were difficulties with the project, mainly from the host communities, these issues were purportedly addressed with the strategic assistance of the state government. Significant progress has been made on the Ebonyi Pharmaceutical Manufacturing City Project, Ebonyi Pharma Park, which is coordinated by Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed by NAIP. All necessary agreements, documents, and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) have also been completed. Led by Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, ex-president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and a former pioneer managing director of Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Plc, SPV is saddled with the responsibility of driving the project process
SPV is initially meant to be an integrated pharmaceutical hub that includes everything from drug production to other companies that provide adjunct services, such as a coordinated warehouse centre, printing, packaging, freight, and financial services, all in one city dedicated to the pharmaceutical sector. There will be housing for the employees, schools for their children, and hospitals. In Africa, Ethiopia is the only country that has such an avenue. So, Nigeria’s own is modelled after the one in Ethiopia.
Major investments are anticipated in Pharma City power projects.
To power the Pharma Park, massive gas turbine units will be implanted. With such high levels of vertical and horizontal integration, organizations in the city are all working toward the same goal of getting the city to the point where it can produce its supply of drugs. It is expected that major investors in the power industry, such as Prof. Barth Nnaji (Geometric Systems) and Femi Otedola, would invest in the power projects included with the Pharma City.
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If something can be doneaboutthe importation of drugs it’s so welcoming because it’s a shameful thing at this present time for our pharmaceutical industry not producing drugs to maximum capacity but importing over 70percent of what is been used
So far this will help regulate the usage of drug in Ebonyi, it is a good initiative. We have been plundered with importation of numerous drugs, it is important we regulate them.
The amount of drug we import is more than the one we are producing our pharmaceutical industry are not capable of producing the amount of drug to satisfy the country we need to start improving not rely on importation of drug before drugs can be available for us
The city’s organizations are highly vertically and horizontally integrated, with everyone working toward the common goal of making the city a drug production hub.
Over seventy percent of the medicines that are used in the country’s healthcare system are imported, making Nigeria a very reliant nation on pharmaceutical companies based in other countries.
It is expected that as a result of this, institutional investors and venture capitalists will be more interested in investing in the pharmaceutical industry.
The importation rate can be lowered by increasing the development of radical interventions in the industry that will increase both the production and distribution of highly effective, low-cost medicines.
Its good that SPV is intended to function as a comprehensive pharmaceutical center that encompasses everything from the manufacture of pharmaceuticals to the provision of ancillary services by other businesses.
Workers’ families will have access to homes, and they, too, will have access to healthcare and educational opportunities. Only in Ethiopia can one find this option on the African continent.
This is a positive step in reducing the prevalence of drug abuse in Ebonyi and establishing lawful guidelines for its consumption. Since our country has been robbed by the illegal importation of drugs, it is crucial that we establish strict controls over the trade.
More research on radical industry reforms that boost both manufacturing and distribution of highly effective, low-cost pharmaceuticals can reduce the importation rate.
It is hoped that this may pique the interest of institutional and venture capitalist investors, who have been slow to participate in the pharmaceutical sector.
Over 70 percent importation is too high, It will be so right if Nigeria can take charge with strategic and developmental plan in order to ensure domination over its drugs production.
We import more than we produce…Pharmaceutical industry here are not capable of producing the amount of drug to satisfy the country. we really need to start improving not relying always on importation of drug before drugs.
Nigeria need to look inward and fight hard for the way forward in every sector of the country. Thanks to the state government of Ebonyi state who have spotted the deficiency in our pharmacitical industry and have started working on a project on drug production within Nigeria to reduce imported drugs.
There is an urgent need to develop innovative industrial initiatives to increase local production as well as the distribution of highly effective medicines that will be accessible to all.
Over 70 percent of drugs utilized in Nigeria’s healthcare system are imported. Who is this be blamed, why are we facing all this. Bad and corrupt system
As a country, we can’t continue to have over 70% of our drugs being imported. Federal Government needs to make the moves that will ensure drug production within Nigeria. Kudos to NAIP that is actively championing the initiative of Ebonyi pharm city.
As big as Nigeria is,it doesn’t make any sense for the citizen to be important 90% of the drugs use because this doesn’t help the country in term of generating job and economy wise.
More is imported than is produced. Almost everything that we import. The local pharmaceutical sector is unable to supply the nation with enough medications. We must start making improvements and stop relying solely on the importation of pharmaceuticals.