“We have numerous government policies aimed at attaining medicine security and self-sufficiency but implementation remains a challenge ,” said Oluwatosin Jolayemi, President, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) .

The PMG-MAN boss disclosed this at Health Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) 13th Annual Symposium/Excellence Award in Lagos recently emphasising that in order to achieve medicine security by creating an enabling environment driven by the right policies the government must take the lead.

Explaining that developing the right policies is only 10% of the work , the president who was ably represented by Frank Muonemeh , executive secretary of PMG – MAN while delivering a keynote address at the symposium observed that faithfully following through with these policies require 90% political will including well coordinated approach to political implementation.

Speaking on the theme; “Dwindling Local Drug Production and High Cost of Essential Medicines: Rethinking Strategies for Growth”, he advocated for Nigeria’s attainment of medicine security status , “the concept of medicine security developed by PMG- MAN , asserts that Nigerians must have control over how their medicines are produced , from active pharmaceutical ingredients to excipients, to finished pharmaceutical formulations.”

“Medical security emphasises the importance of ownership and leadership in achieving sustainability in access to medicine . it is built on five components availability ,accessibility ,affordability ,quality and safety”.

PMG-MAN president, highlighted other challenges faced by local drug manufacturers as self-inflicted taxation , infrastructural deficits , debts owed , access to foreign exchange, lack of patronage , policy inconsistency , access to single digit soft loans etc

Envisioning Nigeria currency situation in 2050 with a population of 440 million probably facing another pandemic , he therefore called on government and the private sector to collaborate and express strong political will and understanding that medical security is an integral part of the national security architecture.

However, reacting to the part of theme : “Dwindling Local Drug Production ” , he argued that in reality , the situation is quite the opposite when examined empirically, “during pre-covid-19 we had a 70% to 30% ratio of imported to locally produce drugs but today post covid-19 this ratio has improved to 55% to 45%”.

Further , he noted that government has prioritized self-reliance and the local production and donor agencies that previously shunned locally manufactured medicine for their intervention programs have started to rethink their stance.

” More locally manufacturers are emerging , scaling up their facilities , building new ones and introducing new molecules using innovative technologies. According to NAFDAC’s data base wee now have approximately 165 local manufacturers with our members heading towards 135 companies “.

The Sub-Themes for the event are: ‘Funding as a Catalyst for a Resilient Pharmaceutical Sector’  delivered by Pharm. Adewale Oladigbolu,  National Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), and ‘HPV Vaccination in Nigeria: Challenges, prospects, and Way Forward’, presented by  Dr. Abimbola Bowale, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Ably represented by Dr Adetola Akinpelu, Immunisation Programmes Coordinator, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board (PHCB).

Speaking at the occasion , HEWAN President, Chioma Obinna explained that the theme became essential as a result of the soaring costs of drugs and essential medicines in the country, posing difficulties for patients with chronic illnesses and many vulnerable Nigerians to afford their medications and access quality healthcare services.