FG seeks WHO’s support for pharmaceutical firms

The Federal Government has called for the continued support of  the World Health Organisation(WHO) and other  development partners in achieving the prequalification status of more Nigerian Pharmaceutical  Companies in order to enable them take part in the global procurement process.

This was contained in the statement  read by the acting Director -General of the  National Agency for Food , Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs Yetunde Oni, at the ongoing 66th session of the African regional committee meeting, Addis Ababa.

She also solicited the support of WHO in strengthening the Pharmacovigilance and Post- Market Surveillances Systems as a step towards fighting substandard, spurious, falsely-labelled, falsified counterfeit(SSFFC) medical products in a bid to making quality, safe, efficacious and affordable medical products accessible to the people.

The director, Media and  Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs Boade Akinola, in a statement signed, said that Oni affirmed the commitment of the Nigerian government to sustain and strengthen its  regulatory framework bearing in mind the importance of a robust regulatory system to the attainment of universal health coverage and improved health outcomes.

“Nigeria has continued to support over 300 local Pharmaceutical Manufacturers to attain International best standards and be prequalified by WHO. Once this is attained, cost of Medical products will be reduced and counterfeiting will be minimized” she added.

Earlier, the Regional Director, WHO for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti described Nigeria as a country with great potentials to manufacture medical products of international standard and reiterated that WHO was working with some Nigerian Manufacturing companies by providing guidance on meeting the requirements of WHO prequalification.

According to Dr. Moeti, “WHO has established a monitoring system at the global level to assist member states in this regard in line with the concern of WHO that citizens should have access to quality and affordable medical products.

The Nigerian Health Minister, Isaac Adewole in his contribution to the discussion emphasized the urgency the issue requires reaffirming thats counterfeit drugs are injurious to the health of Nigerians . He said that there was need for the WHO and African leaders in the health sector to work together so as to safeguard the health of the people.