Rasheedat Iliyas
Stakeholders want the federal and state governments to increase patronage of indigenous pharmaceutical companies to boost local production and meet the medical needs of the country.
The stakeholders made the call at a conference on Contextualizing the Presidential Initiative to Achieve Local Production of Medicines and Vaccines in Nigeria.
The Federal Ministry of Health Abuja organized the conference in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The stakeholders agreed that Nigeria has the potential to become a global leader in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products.
They however identified the need to invest in local production of vaccines and medicines as well as strengthen its healthcare infrastructure and workforce.
One of them, Director of Institute of Medical Research and Training, University of Ilorin, Professor Oladimeji Bolarinwa, called for a robust stakeholders engagements and enabling environment to attract investors.
“The people that are bringing their money to invest in the country, how well are we engaging them? “How well are we ensuring that their investment is secure?
“Are we ensuring enabling environment? Are we sure that the bureaucracy and corruption within our system will not chase them back?,” he asked.
The National Coordinator, Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, (PVAC), Dr Abdu Mukhtar was represented by the project coordinator, Dr Olajide Adebola.
Other speakers
In a welcome address, Dr Mukhtar urged states governments to contribute to the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at making Nigeria self-sufficient in vaccines and medicines production.
“Kwara State is blessed with many citadels of higher learning. We should start rethinking our educational curriculum to address our needs.
“We must start to produce the workforce required for local production of medicines, health technology and vaccines in the state.
“So, we have a critical shortage of workforce, we have bio medical engineers, pharmacist technicians.”
Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam highlighted major achievements of the State Government in strengthening its healthcare system.
He also expressed the readiness to support the Federal Government’s initiative.
“Affordable capital is scarce but manufacturers can now leverage the CBN health sector intervention fund at single digit rate.
“Today, Nigeria stands at a decisive podium of ambition and action, where our national vision for pharmaceutical authority must meet the reality of regional implementation.
“The journey towards self-sufficiency in medicines and vaccines, requires concerted effort.
“Aligning national vision with regional reality is critical and the PVAC can kickstart and catalyze this process,” he advised.
Other stakeholders shared their ideas on how to achieve the lofty goal of robust local manufacturing of medicine and vaccines in the country.
