The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has said government is committed to creating enabling environment to unlock pharmaceutical industry value chain and healthcare sector in general.
He said there is need to reduce the barriers holding local manufacturers in pharmaceutical industry to reduce the high cost of pharmaceutical products, which bothers people in government.
Speaking at the pharmaceutical stakeholders meeting with him, the minister said that there would be consecutive meetings in three months’ time to follow up the issues been discussed.
“Government is working hard with the population of this country to ensure everybody is carried along. We do our best to reduce burden and cost of living on Nigerians as we know that poor people are the vulnerable.”
He explained that for Nigeria to develop, issues affecting pharmaceutical industry cannot be over looked. “We ask foreign investors to come and invest in Nigeria so that at the same time local industries would thrive.
“We know it is not easy for Nigerians at this period but Nigeria will rise again. We are confident that pharmaceutical industry will survive.”
“Government is also concern about regulation of what is been produced in the country to ensure that only quality ones are been produced.”
Pate noted that this is the first time the government and pharmaceutical manufacturers are holding consecutive meeting, which is being taken serious.
President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Prof. Cyril Usifoh, said it is imperative to acknowledge the vital role of pharmacists as primary healthcare providers, especially in the context of routine vaccination efforts.
He said: “Emphasizing their role will not only enhance trust in the pharmacy profession but also significantly contribute to public health initiative and help curb pandemic as exemplified by pharmacists’ critical role in curbing COVID-19, pandemic in USA.”
President, Federation of Nigeria Pharmaceutical Industries Association (FeNPIA), Dr. OkeyAkpa, said the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry is heavily import-dependent.
“Most of their production inputs and finished pharmaceutical products are imported, which only means that the final pricing of the finished product depends on the Foreign Exchange (FOREX) rate.”
