The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), says that 70 percent of drugs in Nigeria are produced and imported from other countries.
Sam Ohuabunwa, the National President of the PSN stated this on Wednesday, during a press briefing organised by the Kwara Chapter of PSN in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Ohuabunwa says that it is unacceptable that the country is still dependent in importation of drugs, adding that plans are underway to ensure that Nigeria boosts its locally made drugs in the country.
He noted that Nigeria depends significantly on imported drugs to take care of the health needs of its over 190 million people.
The PSN National President stated that its workplan will ensures that the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria is encouraged through policy and political will to produce adequate, quality and affordable drugs locally for the health needs of the Nigeria.
He added that local production now is estimated to be around 35 percent which he said, does not reflect the skills and capacity of local industries.
The President said there is need for government intervention in several areas to boost the capacity of local pharmaceutical companies, adding that so much importation of drugs is not good for the country.
He urged the Federal Government to ensure that the Pharmacists as custodian of drugs, are centrally and giving their rightful place in drug administration in Nigeria healthcare facilities.
“You cannot have board meetings in health facilities and the pharmacists who controls drugs are absent, ” he observes .
According to him, the government must ensure the pharmacists are the fulcrum in the Primary Health Care (PHC), because the PSN has observed that drugs are used at that level without scrutiny from the pharmacists.
Ohuabunwa also urged the FG to implement the pharmacy laws, while urging people to always get their drugs from pharmacists to avoid getting fake drugs.
He said that even patent medicine vendors who are licensed go beyond selling drugs that are not allowed.
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
