The National Chairman, Industrial Pharmacist of Nigeria, Kenneth Onuegbu has lamented the low vaccine production capabilities, low aerosols production capabilities and lack of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) production in the country.

 

According to him our vaccine production is low capability, low aerosols, and lack of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) production for a country of over 200 million people not having a single vaccine production facility is not a good development.

 

He made this assertion in Lagos at the exhibition and conference of MedLab West Africa in collaboration with Pharmaconex by Informa market.

 

He said strategic partnership will go a long way to develop Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector. “Strategic we must engage, collaborate and partner together to build a viable pharmaceutical industry. Strategic partnership offers an excellent opportunity for navigating initiatives, investing time and resources in ensuring a smooth integration that aligns with your partners. No country in the world can achieve optimum development without opening its doors to foreign investors, listening to them, and interacting with them.”

 

Onuegbu explained that “Nigeria needs to strategically partner and collaborate with Egypt to develop Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector. In strategic partnership, we will gain a lot in partnering with Egypt. It will build our capacity as far as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) production is concerned. We can leverage on the strength that Egypt has in developing our pharmaceutical sector, while Egypt will leverage on our youthful population.”

 

“Egypt has solid investment on aerosols production, aerosol production, Hitech product , vaccine production, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) and they are here to see the investment opportunities available in the pharmaceutical sector at the end of the day Egypt is happy, Nigeria is happy.”

 

Similarly Dr Kate Isa Chief Executive officer Katchey said: “It is important that the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria get up and take their place. It is important that the private sector and the government support them. It is important we all come together and make this work.

 

“It is important that we innovate, research and develop medical solutions for health challenges that affect Africans specifically for our gene make up. And as we are targeting Nigeria, we are targeting Africa because most look up to Nigeria because we are very enterprising and entrepreneurial.”

 

Meanwhile the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Prof. Cyril Usifoh said ensuring the availability of high-quality medicines is essential to protect patients and maintain the effectiveness of treatment regimens.

 

“A reliable supply chain of safe and effective medicines is essential for the functioning of healthcare systems in the region. Strengthening pharmaceutical supply chains, improving regulatory systems, and investing in healthcare infrastructure are vital to ensure the availability of medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa. If medicines are accessible and affordable, they save lives by reducing mortality and morbidity associated with acute and chronic diseases.”

 

In his contribution, the Group Exhibition Director, Informa Markets Egypt for Pharmaconex West Africa, Mostapha Khalil said they aim to accelerate medicine discovery, development and manufacturing ultimately improving access to life-saving medication for all. We are committed to promoting the development of the Pharmaceutical industry in Africa especially Nigeria.