Support us to produce drugs, pharmacists tell FG

The chairman, Association of Community Pharmacist of Nigeria, Lagos State Branch, Mrs. Biola Paul-Ozieh, has called on the Federal Government to activate the Pharmaceutical Intervention Fund to boost local production of medicines.

She spoke at the APCN Day of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria tagged, ‘Advancing Community Pharmacist Leadership Roles Through Health Education,’ in Lagos on Monday.

According to Paul-Ozieh, Nigeria with a population of over 170 million people imports over 70 per cent of all drugs sold in the country.

She noted that the PIF would serve as a revolving fund for drug manufacturers who need capital to build local manufacturing plants, thereby reducing the country’s dependence on imported drugs.

Paul-Ozieh said, “Government needs to encourage local manufacturers and put petrochemical industries in place, so that raw materials will be available and manufactures can source their raw materials locally. That way, we will be self-sufficient in terms of drugs production and administration in the country.”

Also speaking at the awareness programme, the former chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Anthony Oyewole, cautioned Nigerians to stop patronising illegal pharmacies and drug store operators, especially those in the cities.

Oyewole advised that all medicines should be purchased from government-approved pharmacies, adding that pharmacists in these drug stores could be held responsible in case of adverse drug reactions.

He said, “A patient can react to drugs given on prescription, not to talk of when given by a quack who does not know what he/she is selling. That is why one must be careful.

“Patronise registered pharmacies, as they have in-house experts who will ask you questions and tell you what to do so that drug does not become a poison.”

He appealed to retail pharmacy operators to stop patronising importers in open drug markets, whom he said often stocked expired and adulterated medicines.

PUNCH.