During the sixth Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers Expo 2022 (NPME), which was organized by PMG-MAN and held in Lagos, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye; Chairman, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMGMAN), Dr. Fidelis Ayebae and President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Prof. Cyril Usifoh provided explanations for why Nigeria is only able to generate 20% of the necessary medicines it requires and instead relies on importing 80% of those medicines.
They cautioned that reliance on importation to cover the medical needs of a growing population has serious repercussions for the development of the domestic pharmaceutical industry as well as the availability, affordability, and accessibility of necessary medications in the nation. In addition, stakeholders affirmed that local medicine manufacturers are not patronized by donors and UN organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) since they are not WHO-prequalified.
The pharmaceutical sector needs structural modification.
As the theme of the 2022 NPME is “Advancing the Frontiers of Medicine Security in Nigeria: Expanding Local Pharma Manufacturing in the Era of AfCFTA”, and in order to change this medicine dependency trend, they suggested a number of things, including a special foreign exchange (forex) regime, a reduced tariff on the importation of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for local pharma manufacturers, and increased patronage for drugs and medical products that are made in Nigeria. Moreover, they asserted that cutting taxes and providing other incentives to entrepreneurs is an effective way to stimulate economic growth.
Olubunmi Aribeana, the Director of Food and Drug Services at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), made the statement on behalf of Dr. Ehanire, who stated that it was necessary for Nigeria to maximize the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The minister reaffirmed that the agreement would result in the creation of the largest free trade area in the world, based on the number of nations that would participate in it. More so, he added that the agreement brings together 1.3 billion persons from 55 different countries whose combined gross domestic product (GDP) is valued at $3.4 trillion.
Nigeria pharmaceutical companies do not attain WHO prequalification.
Dr. Ehanire explained that Nigeria, which has a population of over 220 million people, needs to profit more from AfCFTA. Nigerian indigenous manufacturing companies need to achieve WHO prequalification in order to operate effectively. Because of this, our local manufacturers of pharmaceutical products will be able to attract markets from all over the world. He added that the FMoH receives donor funds for its programs, but they are unable to procure the pharmaceuticals and medical supplies from Nigerian manufacturers since none of them has been prequalified by the WHO.
Prof. Usifoh made an observation that the government ought to provide assistance to local manufacturers because they are confronted with a great number of difficulties. In order for the pharmaceutical sector to be able to compete and manufacture high-quality pharmaceuticals, they require policies passed by the government. Furthermore, Dr. Ayebae stated that the pandemic serves as a wake-up call to the international community, prompting them to focus inward and give priority to the pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors in their own countries.
NAFDAC reveals that some companies are capable of producing vaccines.
The director general of NAFDAC stated that vaccine production would take place. They already have companies that are capable of producing vaccines, and they have put in a lot of effort. And currently, some of its employees are going to South Korea to receive specialized training in the production of bio vaccines. He added that no country could produce vaccines if it has not reached maturity level 3, and they have reached maturity level 3 after ten years, in which they are now moving on to maturity level 4. This will help the country’s manufacturers get recognition on a global scale.
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It is unfortunate that Nigeria is only able to produce 20% of the essential medications it needs and must therefore rely on importing 80% of those medicines. Nigeria’s healthcare system is severely lacking as a result.
We should be warned that relying on imports to satisfy the medical demands of a population that is steadily increasing might have severe consequences for the growth of the local pharmaceutical sector
the pricing, availability, and ease of access to vital pharmaceuticals throughout the country. In addition, those involved in the matter confirmed that international donors do not purchase pharmaceuticals from domestic producers.
Our federal government has been a major setback for most manufacturing companies which is evidence in the drug producing sector of the pharmacitical companies. Government policies should be favourable so that they will be able to obtain WHO pre-qualification.
Boosting economic development via the reduction of taxes as well as the provision of additional incentives to business owners is a successful strategy.
the government needs to offer aid to local manufacturers since they are faced with a great deal of challenges, and that this assistance should be provided because local manufacturers
The number of countries that would be required to sign the agreement would make it possible to establish a free trade area that would be the most extensive of its kind in the whole globe.
It is necessary for the government to enact certain regulations in order for the pharmaceutical industry to be able to compete and produce drugs of a high enough quality.
Nigeria is blessed with human and natural resources bif not for bad governmental leaders we should have advanced scientifically and technically. The major factor affecting drugs manufacturers is government unfavorable policies which have prevented the inclusion of Nigerian pharmacitical manufacturing companies for WHO pre-qualification; importation of vital ingredients for drug production with heavy taxes on them.
There is really a great need for the government to adjust the regulations to benefit local producers which in turn will improve the local markets, increased local products sales and at the same time achieve the set goals.
We really need to do more in our health sector. The medical industries and institutes also need to be funded more. This low percentage of drugs being manufactured by us won’t really help our health sector. We can’t just continue to import drugs abroad. Our medical research centers should also be equipped to international standard.
The local manufacturing industry is up against a great deal of competition and needs aid from the government because of this.
Local drug makers aren’t patronized by funders and UN organizations like WHO and UNICEF because they aren’t WHO-prequalified.
Importing to fulfill the medical demands of an expanding population has major ramifications for the domestic pharmaceutical industry and the availability, price, and accessibility of vital pharmaceuticals.
The drug we are using the manufacture of it is too low we have to improve our health sector so we can be manufacturing more amount of drug instead of depending on the export ones and it seems we have local manufacturer who are capable to produce quality drug government should do necessary thing in other to assist the local manufacturer to been patronize them
For a most populous nation in Africa at this present time to be producing just 20percebt of its medicine it’s truly a shame on Nigeria as a whole.
The pandemic serves as a wake-up call to the international community, prompting them to focus inward and give priority to the pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors in their own countries. Companies capable of producing vaccines should be encourage and support to produce.
This is not good news at all,for a country that has big population like Nigeria.
This are the things that this bad nigeria government should look into. but they dont care at all. How can they promote or help the country to grow. Abeg we dont have governent yet
In order for the pharmaceutical sector to be able to compete and manufacture high-quality pharmaceuticals, the government ought to provide assistance to local manufacturers. Because they are confronted with a great number of difficulties.
The domestic pharmaceutical business, as well as the availability, cost, and accessibility of essential pharmaceuticals, will be significantly affected by importing to meet the medical needs of a growing population.