By Sunday Ani
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) has called on the Federal Government to ensure a speedy implementation of the executive order on medical products.
PMG-MAN said the value of naira is a big problem, insisting that if not fixed, the target of 70 per cent local drug manufacturing would not be achieved. It also argued that the country’s regulatory agency does not have the capacity to fight fake drugs in Nigeria.
At a press briefing in Lagos ahead of the 7th edition of the Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers Expo (NPME), scheduled to hold in Lagos between September 4 and 5, 2024, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Patrick Ajah, disclosed the aim of the executive order was to boost local production of healthcare products and reduce costs. He, however, stressed there must be a timeline to it.
“For an effective and speedy implementation of the executive order, there must be a clear timeline and commitment from the Federal Government. Also, the most critical factor for the success of the domestic pharmaceutical industry is a stable exchange rate. The recent fluctuations in the value of the naira have made it difficult for companies to plan and invest, and the government would need to stabilise the naira to achieve 70 per cent local drug production.”
Ajah, who is also the managing director, May & Baker, reiterated that if the local capacity of manufacturing companies in the country was not growing, “then you are encouraging fake drugs.
“The truth is that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control cannot, on its own, stop fake medicines in a big country like Nigeria. The agency does not have the manpower or the financial capacity to fight fake drugs, and even companies do not have the ability to stop people from faking their own products either.”
On his part, Executive Secretary, PMG-MAN, Frank Muonemeh, said Nigeria was already on the right track, with local manufacturers currently producing 40 per cent of the medicines used in the country.
He highlighted partnerships between the state government and local companies as a positive development. One success story, according to him, is the production of essential medicines.
“Due to the government’s import restrictions, there are now six companies in Nigeria that manufacture these drugs, eliminating the need for imports.”
Speaking further on the 2024 edition with the theme, “Forty Years of Advocacy: Fostering Partnership and Innovation to Unlock the Pharma Manufacturing Value Chain in Nigeria, Central and West Africa,” Muonemeh argued that a strong domestic pharmaceutical industry was essential for national security.
“The 7th NPME 2024 is the flagship expo and the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing exhibition in Central and West Africa, organised by PMG-MAN and partners, GPE India.
“Experts predict that the Nigerian pharma space would be the next frontier for smart investment and trade, with great but largely untapped potential to contribute to national and regional development.
“To unlock this potential, the group organises a biennial Pharma Expo and Exhibition, focusing on the latest pharma technology, machinery, equipment, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and showcasing locally manufactured medicines, diagnostics, and consumables.
“So, the theme was chosen to enable robust and comprehensive stakeholders’ engagement in the industry. It focuses on positioning the industry for global competitiveness and becoming the pharma manufacturing hub for Africa.
“Given the exit of multinationals and the rising cost of medicines due to macro and microeconomic dynamics in Nigeria, this theme is timely and forward-thinking,” he said.