Currently, Nigeria hosts about 60 percent of the pharmaceutical production capacity in Africa and is projected to grow between $60 billion to $70 billion after COVID-19, the experts said.
Adigwe also warned that pharmaceuticals touch at the heart of national security, adding that the country may never be able to sustain the supply of high quality and affordable medicines for the populace except it determines how such drugs are produced and distributed. The NIPRD boss asked the government to ensure the provision of infrastructure and equipment, as well as fund local companies in the production of pharmaceutical products.
He also called for the improvement in ICT facilities and power supply to compete with external institutions, adding that a focus on phytomedicine can drive the nations ‘Gross Domestic Product, GDP, to about 5%.
Imported drugs are cheaper