‘API production to reduce high cost of medicines’

Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has reiterated the importance of local production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and excipients to reduce high cost of drugs in Nigeria.

She said that API products are the essential components of pharmaceuticals responsible for the intended therapeutic effect, adding that Nigeria cannot achieve access to quality healthcare without unlocking healthcare value-chain through local API.

Adeyeye, who spoke, yesterday, in Lagos, during the NAFDAC second training/workshop on manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and excipients in Nigeria, with the theme, “Unlocking the healthcare value-chain,” noted that API products form the backbone of pharmaceutical formulation and their quality directly impacts the safety and efficacy of the medicines, which directly impacts public health.

She said that the training aimed at equipping the participants with a thorough understanding of the regulatory framework for APIs, encompassing development, manufacturing, and quality assurance.

“The training will empower participants to navigate the complexities of API regulations and guidelines effectively. It will also foster the ability to contribute to the development and maintenance of high-quality pharmaceutical products, as well as ensuring public health and safety.”

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, who was represented by the National Coordinator of the Presidential Unlocking Healthcare Value-Chain Initiative, Dr Abdu Mukhtar, said that the Ministry of Health would ensure production of quality API products in Nigeria by working with NAFDAC and other related agencies.

He said that local production of API would help to address the challenges of foreign exchange, as drug manufacturers will now have opportunity for procurement of raw materials.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi, said the training was a very nice step, as it would boost production of local medicines.

He noted that WHO participated in the training to ensure that all measures and quality standards are put in place before the manufacturers will start producing locally.

Vice Chairman, House Committee on Food and Drug Administration and Control, Uchenna Okonkwo, said members of the 10th National Assembly are working with NAFDAC to ensure that adequate money is released to ensure proper regulations and improvement of local manufacturing of medicines in Nigeria, especially the committee members.