The Director-General of National
Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye
has criticised the overdependence on importation in Nigeria.
Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye
has criticised the overdependence on importation in Nigeria.
Mojisola, speaking on Channels Tv said
the only thing Nigerian pharmaceutical companies do not import is water.
the only thing Nigerian pharmaceutical companies do not import is water.
According to the NAFDAC DG,
overdependence on importation has affected the availability of medical supplies
in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
overdependence on importation has affected the availability of medical supplies
in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were over-dependent. The only
thing that the pharmaceutical companies do not import is water.
thing that the pharmaceutical companies do not import is water.
“The ingredients are not there and you
cannot manufacture ingredients, whether active or non-active in the country
without support from the government.
cannot manufacture ingredients, whether active or non-active in the country
without support from the government.
“You cannot set up active
pharmaceutical industries without training the personnel; without having solid
science foundation.
pharmaceutical industries without training the personnel; without having solid
science foundation.
“But that is changing at the moment.
We have two or three companies now that are going to be making some
pharmaceutical ingredients
We have two or three companies now that are going to be making some
pharmaceutical ingredients
She added that importation is the best
thing, but it is also the worst thing that could have happened to Nigeria.
thing, but it is also the worst thing that could have happened to Nigeria.
The NAFDAC DG further called for the
need for increased local production in Nigeria.
need for increased local production in Nigeria.
Mojisola, however, added that she sees
a better future for health sector and pharmaceutical as Coronavirus has drawn
the attention of the government to the health sector.
a better future for health sector and pharmaceutical as Coronavirus has drawn
the attention of the government to the health sector.
“I actually see a brighter future for
Nigeria because COVID-19 woke us up from our comatose state as a country. The
health sector was neglected for decades and what the Buhari administration is
doing right now is phenomenal.”
Nigeria because COVID-19 woke us up from our comatose state as a country. The
health sector was neglected for decades and what the Buhari administration is
doing right now is phenomenal.”
According to her, the health sector as
a result of COVID-19 has garnered support and financial contribution from the
current administration.
a result of COVID-19 has garnered support and financial contribution from the
current administration.