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Local pharmaceutical companies poised to boost medicine production – PMG-MAN
The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN), says local pharmaceutical manufacturers are poised to leverage the lacuna created by the exit of foreign pharmaceutical companies to boost medicine production.
Mr Oluwatosin Jolayemi, Chairman, (PMG-MAN) and Managing Director of Daily-Need Industries Ltd, said this in an interview with The Tide source on Saturday in Lagos.
The Tide source reports that pharmaceutical companies including GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi Nigeria Ltd, exited the country due to challenges with foreign exchange, ease of doing business, multiple taxation, importation bureaucracy, among others.
Jolayemi said that the industry was ready, noting that between six to 11 pharmaceutical factories were poised to produce products that GSK, Sanofi and other pharmaceutical companies had produced.
“Maybe there are some SKUs that we do not have capacity for. The ones that we have capacity for, which is the bulk of what they bring into the country, we are ready for.
“But the issue is that medicine is not just like sewing clothes or buying shoes. There is a process to manufacture medicine.
“But we are ready in the industry because we have between 6 and 11 factories that are poised to produce those products that GSK, Sanofi and others have. And because most of these products are generic, we are poised to produce them,” he said.
He emphasised that the government must have a policy statement and be deliberate to ensure local pharmaceutical companies fill the gaps and thrive through an enabling environment and business-friendly regulation.
“Either the government or NAFDAC has to be able to take advantage and let the local industry take advantage of the lacuna.
“And give priorities so that the prices of drugs, particularly these antibiotics could come down.
“But, as long as we are still holding on to the bottlenecks, the problem continues to linger, and the cost of medicines remains high,” he said.
On bottlenecks that should be addressed, Jolayemi cited issues with regulation and the process of registration.
“We are not asking for the standard to be dropped. We are just asking that we should work together in the interest of the populace and see how we can begin to make these products available.
“Because these products are generic. They are not rocket science. They are not new molecules. They are old molecules that have been in the market for 20, 30 years.
“So, this is something that we could always work around, but it is left to government and NAFDAC to decide,” he said.
Speaking on the rising cost of medicine, Jolayemi attributed it to fluctuating foreign exchange rate, indiscriminate custom tariff regime, high cost of electricity tariff and operating cost, among others.
He stressed that it was cheaper to produce locally, noting that active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients are mostly imported by manufacturers.
Jolayemi disclosed that a German company and another consortium are currently investing in API manufacturing.
“They are doing the formal analysis. And we hope that if those ones come on board, they cannot supply all the APIs that are required in the industry.
“But at least they will be able to take care of the usual regular ones that are common to use in the industry,” he said.
The Chairman urged the Federal Government to assist manufacturers with soft loans and grants to boost production as done by the governments of India and China.
“Government needs to encourage pharmaceutical companies because APIs and medicine are national issues.
“The government needs to see healthcare as a national policy and begin to take it like that because if you have hospitals, no matter how beautiful your hospitals are, if there are no medicines, the hospital just becomes a consulting unit,” he said.
Jolayemi emphasised that the government must prioritise healthcare, especially medicine production, availability and affordability for its citizens.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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