A new directive from the Federal Government has directed all Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals to procure needles and syringes from only the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, approved local manufacturers.
The circular with ref number: HMSH&SW /CMDs/MDs/FTHs/CIRCULAR/S&N/03 dated 28th March 2024, also disclosed that NAFDAC has been mandated to stop issuing licences for the importation of foreign manufactured needles and syringes. The circular also disclosed that out of the nine local pharmaceutical companies that produced needles and syringes eight years ago, Six have folded up due to the dumping of largely substandard goods into the market.The circular reads in parts: “In my virtual meeting with all of you, we all agreed to take the necessary steps to immediately remedy this sad situation.