Encourage indigenous research, production of drugs, Reps tell Buhari

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, admonished Federal Government on the need to encourage local and indigenous research in the country, with the view to reduce the capital flights involved in the importation of drugs from foreign countries.

The resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion titled: ‘Need to check the rise of drug insecurity and to encourage indigenous production of drugs in Nigeria’, sponsored by Hon. Dennis Idahosa who emphasised the need to revisit the National Drug Policy as a way to promote and boost our medical industry.

While expressing concern over Nigeria’s overdependence on China and other developed economies for the importation of active and non- active ingredients for the production of drugs, the lawmaker underscored the need for the present administration to invest more in the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD).

In his lead debate, Hon. Idahosa lamented that the recent Coronavirus epidemic which broke out in China has “paralysed its economy thus rendering it unable to produce or export those necessary ingredients or medicine.

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“The Director General of National Agency for Food and Administration Drug (NAFDAC) at an event on the 18 February 2020 raised an alarm that the outbreak of corona-virus in China has the capacity to result in an up-rise of drug insecurity.

“The House also recalls that one of Nigeria’s National Drug Policy target was the increase in local production capacity to a level where 70% of total output satisfies at least 60% of national drug requirements of essential drugs while the balance is exported by 2008;

“The House is cognizant of the fact that Nigeria does not produce drugs locally or the ingredients to make the drugs on a large commercial scale, and that Nigeria import over 70% of the drugs majorly from China.

“The House is also cognizant that even when coronavirus is eradicated in future, Nigeria should continue to take the bold step in encouraging made in Nigeria drugs especially as part of its policy to encourage more locally made drugs,” he urged.

In the bid to reduce the promote local production of drugs into the country, the House mandated its joint committees on Health Institutions, Health Care Services and Science & Technology to organize a round table discussion to chart a probable course for the development of locally made drugs.

To this end, the House mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.