Minister Tasks Pharmacists On Affordable Drugs

The Minister of Health, Dr Onyebuchi Chukwu, last Saturday night said that government’s support of the pharmaceutical industry was imperative to have a sustainable healthcare system in the country.

Chukwu spoke at a programme organised as part of activities marking the 25th anniversary of Emzor Pharmaceuticals in Lagos.

He said that the role of the pharmaceutical industry in the sustainability of a good healthcare system in any country could not be over-emphasised.

“We must support the pharmaceutical industry so that we can have a sustainable healthcare system in Nigeria”, he said.

The Minister explained that the industry must be functional and its standard upheld.

Chukwu appreciated Emzor’s efforts in ensuring that people got good and efficient pharmaceutical products at affordable prices, adding said that the ministry was willing to work with the company to accomplish greater things.

The Founder and Group Managing Director, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Dr Stella Okolie, said that the drive of any pharmaceutical company should be to improve the health indices of the nation.

She said the companies could do this by ensuring that the masses had unlimited access to medication when needed, without fear of lack of potency or high prices.

Okolie charged pharmaceutical companies in the country to manufacture high quality products at affordable prices to meet the healthcare needs of the populace.

She said that Emzor could attribute its success story to its passion, determination and commitment to bring quality healthcare and unlimited wellness into the lives of Nigerians by manufacturing high quality products.

The company boss said that Emzor was founded 25 years ago, out of the need to fill a gap created by lack of access to medicine at that time.

She said that the company started with four product lines in 1987, but today had a product range of more than 70 brands and had recorded phenomenal growth to become a household name.