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The Federal and States Government have been called on to increase patronage of indigenous pharmaceutical companies and empower them to meet the medical needs of the country.
This was the consensus of stakeholders at a conference in Ilorin on Contextualizing the Presidential Initiative to Achieve Local Production of Medicines and Vaccines in Nigeria, organised by the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja.
The stakeholders agree that Nigeria has the potential to become a leader in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products if she invest in local production of vaccines and medicines as well as strengthen its healthcare infrastructure and workforce.
In a submission, Director of Institute of Medical Research and Training, University of Ilorin, Professor Oladimeji Bolarinwa emphasized the need for a robust engagement with all stakeholders and create 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?;how well are we ensuring that there’s enabling environment? How well are we sure that the bureaucracy within our system, the corruption within our system, will not chase them back? These are the things we need to assure them.”
Earlier in an address of welcome, National Coordinator, Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, PVAC, Dr Abdu Mukhtar, represented by the project coordinator, Dr Olajide Adebola, urged States Government to look inward and identify ways to contribute to the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu, to make Nigeria self sufficient in vaccines and medicines production.
“Kwara State is blessed with many citadel of higher learning, we should start rethinking our educational curriculum to see how we can meet up with the workforce required for manufacturing of local production of medicines and health technology as well as vaccines in the State.
“So, we have a critical shortage of workforce, we have bio medical engineers, pharmacist technicians.”
The Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam highlighted some major achievements of the State Government in strengthening its healthcare system and its 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, medicines and vaccines, requires a concerted effort, aligning national vision with regional reality. And the PVAC can kickstart and catalyse this process.”
Various speakers and panel discussants at the conference, including the Elerin of Adanla-Irese, in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Dr David Oyerinola; Dr Bilkis Alatise! Dr Mistura Adana; Executive Secretary Kwara State Hospital Management Board, Dr Malik Abdulraheem! all emphasized the crucial role of sustainable funding, researches, active workforce and formidable regulatory agencies in achieving the set goals.
By Rasheedat Iliyas
