Warn of imminent scarcity, drug insecurity
Pharmacists under the aegis of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) have advised Nigerians to brace up for scarcity of essential and non-essential/prescription drugs as prices soar by over 300 per cent.

They noted that drug shortage could cause deterioration, delay surgical operations, increase patients’ suffering and result in ultimately death.

NAIP, at a press briefing in Lagos, Tuesday, to announce its 26th conference, tagged ‘Coal City 2023’, said the situation is made worse because over 70 per cent of drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients used by local manufacturers are imported.

The theme of the conference, which will hold at Carlton Swiss Grand Hotels, Enugu, from July 5 to 8, is ‘Role of pharmaceutical industry towards achieving medicines security in Nigeria’.

Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Charles Ajibo, disclosed that significant shortage of essential medicines and medical products across the country is imminent.

“It is evident enough that Nigeria suffered drug scarcity alongside other African nations during the COVID-19 saga, as foreign countries locked borders against inter-trade, which had negative impact on sustainability of general public health,” he noted.

The pharmacist said drug security has been a major challenge in the country.

National chairman of the association, Mr. Ken Onuegbu, said there has been an unexpected jump in price of essential medicines. He said foreign exchange has placed over 20 per cent hike on production of drugs locally and that is why achieving medical security is the core topic of the conference.

Onuegbu highlighted negative impact of importing over 80 per cent of medicines into Nigeria. He attributed acute inadequacy of local manufacturers to an unsuitable working environment. He lamented that while the country continues to worry over shortage of local investors and high cost of imported drugs, few surviving manufacturers are being shut down.

He said NAIP is not against government policies intended to sanitise the sector and called for mutual engagement and understanding between the association and authorities.

He added: “Nigeria is particularly vulnerable, with respect to pharmaceuticals, since there is reduced local production and about 70 per cent of the drug supply is imported, creating a huge supply-demand disparity. Particularly, in times like COVID-19, Nigeria needed huge quantities of quality-assured health commodities to effectively respond to the pandemic.”