With the phase of global challenge in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, localisation has been tipped as the biggest game-changer.
Speaking at the official signing of contract for local manufacturing of Sanofi products in Nigeria by May &Baker Nigeria Plc, Folake Odediran, general manager, Sanofi Nigeria-Ghana said that localisation takes translation a step further which is a healthcare need in Nigeria.
She noted that the policy direction set by the federal government is to assure national drug security through self-sufficiency in the supply of essential medicines.
According to Odediran, to achieve this, the government has chosen the noble path of building local capacity and expertise for sustainable growth stating that at Sanofi, the organisation understands that local sourcing of essential medicines is central to achieving the government’s objectives. We remain committed to this noble aspiration.
“Today, the formal signing of a manufacturing agreement with May &Baker Nigeria plc is proof of our commitment to localization. We will continue to contribute our quota towards availability of very efficacious, high quality made in Nigeria medicines,” she said.
She further said that building strategic partnership with May & Baker Nigeria Plc is to support the country’s local manufacturing ambitions based on its (M&B) rich history of producing high-quality medicines in Nigeria and it also follows rigorous due -diligence exercise and successful compliance outcomes in line with local laws and our global policies.
“I reckon that localization is a journey. And the evolution we seek will not come overnight. Therefore, bridging the gap between local demand and supply may require that some categories of medicines continue to be remotely sourced to prevent dearth of life-saving medicines.”
“In the interim, I wish to call all stakeholders to collaborate with the government to develop a robust and fully functional local drug manufacturing ecosystem,” she said.
Sanofi is a global healthcare company focused on serving the healthcare needs of the world’s 7 billion people. The organisation is driven by a mission to empower life and a purpose to understand and solve the healthcare needs of people.
Nnamdi Okafor, managing director, and chief executive officer May &Baker added that the partnership is significant to both companies and the country at larger noting that because it aligns NAFDAC’s strategic policy (5+5) which is aimed at improving local capacity as well as the quality of medicines manufactured in Nigeria.
Okafor said that the Pharma centre established by the organisation has the manufacturing capacity of about 6 billion tablets and 37.5 million bottles of 60cl liquid preparation annually was built to meet strict international pharmaceutical manufacturing standards.
“It was purpose-built not just to make high-quality pharmaceutical products for May& Baker but for quality-minded organisations like Sanofi under contract manufacturing agreements. Current capacity utilisation at the pharma centre stands at about 50% of installed capacity.
“I, therefore, want to assure Sanofi of our readiness to manufacture even more products for them,” he said.
Also speaking, Mojisola Adeyeye the director-general of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) represented by Monica Eimunjeze director, Registration & Regulatory Affairs of NAFDAC said today is a special day for NAFDAC and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Localisation with is dear to the organisation and access to sales and quality medicines in Africa is part of Africa union’s plan. We are very proud of Sanofi and May &Baker and other companies that are giving effect to local drugs manufacturing because the drug security world is not possible without strengthening local drugs manufacturing
Eimunjeze said that the Agency give effect to what they do. “We are looking forward to seeing more partnership and more local products which will meet the acceptable global standard.”
ANTHONIA OBOKOH
