The House of Representatives has raised concerns about a spate of substandard drugs being imported into Nigeria. The House also said coronavirus outbreak was a threat to local drug production. to promote the local medical industry.
These resolutions followed a unanimous adoption of a motion moved by Mr Dennis Idahosa titled ‘Need to check the Rise of Drug Insecurity and to Encourage Indigenous Production of Drugs in Nigeria.’
Idahosa said, “The House is aware that Nigeria is largely dependent on China, among other countries, for the importation of active and non-active ingredients for production of drugs. China has recently been affected by coronavirus that has paralysed its economy, thus rendering it unable to produce or export those necessary ingredients or medicine.
“The House recalls the Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, at an event on February 18, raised the alarm that the outbreak of coronavirus in China has the capacity to result in uprising of drug insecurity. It also recalls one of Nigeria’s National Drug Policy targets was the increase in local production capacity to a level where 70 per cent of total output satisfies at least 60 per cent of national drug requirements of essential drugs, while the balance is exported by 2008.”
source: Punch
