Nigeria Content Online

The pharmaceutical
industry remains unregulated despite existing laws and enforcement
agencies guiding the manufacturing, importation and distribution of
drugs in the country, the national chairman of the Nigerian Association
of Industrial Pharmacists (NAIP), Lolu Ojo, has said.

Speaking during the
NAIP interactive session held yesterday at the Tahir guest palace in
Kano, Mr Ojo said Nigerian pharmaceutical firms were not contacted to
join the proposed Affordable Medicine for Malaria (AmFm).

He said the
country’s economy would suffer if foreign firms are allowed to ship
anti-malaria drugs to be sold at less than N100 per dose.

“The objective of
the project is commendable, but the implication of the execution of
this project will be disastrous for the industry. None of the existing
companies is considered competent to be engaged for the manufacturing
of these products,” he said.

“The billions of
doses will be produced in foreign countries and shipped to Nigeria for
consumption. The country derives no benefit. Besides, no one considers
the fate of companies producing and selling the anti-malarial in the
country; their business, staff and future. It is a pathetic story.” He
lamented the government’s lukewarm attitude to the industry, saying
government presence is only felt in the amount of charges, levies and
sundry underhand dealings against the indigenous pharmaceutical
industries.

Left undone

To buttress his
point, he cited the fourth phase of the petrochemical industry that was
supposed to serve as a source of raw materials for the pharmaceutical
industry, that has remained in the pipeline.

“It is a pity that
we have left undone the fundamental actions needed to propel Nigeria in
the world map in this sector,” he said.

He further listed
nonexistent patronage from the government, fake and substandard drugs,
rising cost of production as well as the chaotic distribution of drugs
in the country as some of the problems besetting the pharmaceutical
industry in Nigeria.

He lamented that
the pharmaceutical industry is not as vibrant as it is supposed to be,
adding that it is appalling that the total volume in terms of turnover
is far less than $1 billion.

He used India as
reference point, saying it is a country that took decisive steps to
develop its pharmaceutical industry, which has eventually paid off .

“The Indian domestic market in 2008 was worth $11 billion and it is projected to hit the $15billion mark by 2012,” he said.

In 2007 -2008, India exported drugs worth $7.5 billion to the rest of the world.