Angela Onwuzoo
Pharmacists under the aegis of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy have raised the alarm that Nigerians can no longer afford to buy few available medicines in the country due to economic hardship.
The pharmacists expressed concern over the scarcity and persistent hike in the cost of essential medicines and urged the Federal Government to treat the availability of drugs as a security matter.
Stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector have attributed the surge in drug prices to factors such as the devaluation of the national currency, unstable foreign exchange rates, reliance on imported active pharmaceutical ingredients, and heavy dependence on drug imports.
The senior pharmacists spoke at a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday ahead of the academy’s 10th anniversary and investiture of new fellows scheduled to be held on September 19 at the University of Lagos.
Vice President of NAPHARM, Ifeanyi Atueyi, said nine eminent pharmacists would be admitted as fellows to the academy established in 2014, thereby bringing the total number of fellows to 133.
Atueyi said the investiture with the theme, “Healthcare Transformation & National Development,” would have the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum, as the special guest of honour.
The pharmacist stated that healthcare was one of the most critical pillars of any society, serving as a foundation for individuals’ well-being and economic growth, hence the rationale for the theme of the investiture.
“When a nation invests in transforming its healthcare system, it invests in its people, the most important asset of a nation and, ultimately, its future,” he added.
On medicines availability and affordability in the country, the NAPHARM vice president said the academy was aware of the current difficulties encountered in the sourcing of medicines as required in the country.
Atueyi stated, “Medicines are not available as they used to be, and the few available ones are not affordable. It has always been the position of the Academy that the medicines availability should be treated as a security matter in the country.
“When people are sick, they need medicines for restoration to the normal state of affairs. The government must, as a deliberate and direct policy, ensure the growth and development of the pharmaceutical industry and sustain it with patronage.
“We are not unaware of the current moves by the government: waiver of customs duty through an executive order, continuous engagement with the pharmaceutical industry, etc.”
He, however, commended the government’s efforts in addressing the problem, especially the signing of the executive order on pharmaceuticals by President Bola Tinubu.
“We commend and encourage the government to do these things sustainably to truly grow the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria,” he said.
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