Pharmaceutical stakeholders push for uniformity in industry operations
A call for the harmonisation of pharmaceutical activities in Nigeria has been made by health sector experts, as they seek to improve the country's healthcare system and make it self-reliant.
The suggestion was put forward during a stakeholders' engagement in Abuja, under the IMPACT project, by Dr Obi Adigwe, Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD). Dr Adigwe emphasised that fragmented interventions and redundant regulations have long stunted growth in the sector. He further stated that harmonisation isn't just about avoiding duplication; it's about aligning policy, investment, and technical frameworks to achieve measurable results.
Dr Francis Ohanyido, Director-General of the West Africa Institute of Public Health, agreed, stating that such collaboration is necessary given limited development financing and the need to optimise resources. He also reaffirmed the importance of equitable access to quality medicine as the foundation of universal healthcare.
Dr Tayo Hamzat, from the World Health Organisation, described Nigeria's pharmaceutical system as robust and huge but hindered by weak coordination and fragmented management structures. He stated that harmonisation would lead to faster access to health products, lower costs, improved efficiency, and better regulatory oversight.
The European Union (EU) has also shown its commitment to supporting a resilient, locally driven pharmaceutical sector in Nigeria. Dr Anthony Ayeke, from the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed this commitment and noted that harmonisation could accelerate local production, reduce import dependency, and improve healthcare system resilience.
Dr Ayeke also recommended regulatory streamlining, value chain capacity building, innovation, and public-private partnerships. Dr Muhammad Balarabe, Technical Associate at PVAC, emphasised the committee's focus on catalysing local production and attracting sustainable investment.
Dr Obi Adigwe urged stakeholders to develop practical short, medium, and long-term strategies to make Nigeria's pharmaceutical sector self-reliant, globally competitive, and able to meet national healthcare demands. Dr Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the Pharmaceutical Value Chain Transformation Committee (PVAC), commended ongoing efforts under the IMPACT project.
The article, published by an unspecified publisher, also mentions recent publications on agriculture, health, education, and features. The article was edited by Abiemwense Moru. Dr Ohanyido suggested that market shaping could help identify gaps for improvement, particularly in preparation for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The meeting brought together key government agencies, development partners, and private sector actors, each reaffirming a shared commitment to a unified, efficient pharmaceutical ecosystem in Nigeria. The lack of access to quality medicine is not just a health issue; it's about equity, national security, and economic survival, as stated by Dr Obi Adigwe.
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