‘Ministry committed to local content in health sector’

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Abdulaziz Abdullahi, has restated the commitment of the ministry to promoting local content in the health sector. He also said government has plans to ensure locally manufactured medical products compete favourably with those from other parts of the world.

Abdullahi disclosed this when he visited Emzor Pharmaceutical’s ultramodern facility in Shagamu, Ogun State.

“We are looking into how government can encourage manufacturers. Some ways are through assisting local manufacturers by reducing cost, for instance, in power and infrastructure. For pioneers, we have issues like policy of tax waivers, tax holidays, import substitution,” he said.

While commending the company, he said Global Fund has pledged $890 million dollars over the past three years as aid to manufacturers, expressing hope that Emzor would benefit from the incentive.

The firm’s Executive Director, Uzoma Ezeoke, said besides drug manufacturing, the company is also involved in medical equipment and desires to venture into vaccine production.

She added: “The plan to build this factory started a long time ago and this is the fourth factory owned by Emzor.”

This factory is seated on 60 hectares of land and some of the products we decided to manufacture are essential products needed in the country and will require more space.”