The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has applauded President Bola Tinubu for signing an executive order to ensure drug and health security in the country.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye in a statement Saturday said the executive order is geared towards transforming Nigeria’s health sector by increasing local production of healthcare products, reducing costs of healthcare equipment and consumables, and promoting local investments.
The NAFDAC DG described it as a viable initiative to boost local production, reduce healthcare costs, and foster local investments.
She said that the order addresses longstanding challenges and promises to enhance health outcomes across the nation.
She went down the memory lane about the reforms and transformation of the agency. She said that for six years, the agency has undergone significant transformation, leading to its recognition as a strong and stable regulatory body.
“Under the leadership of the Director General, the agency has introduced various reforms, culminating in notable achievements, including ISO-9001-2015 accreditation in 2019 and recognition as a WHO Prequalified Laboratory. This journey has been marked by efforts to integrate a quality management culture and align with WHO Global Benchmarking standards,
“More recently, in 2023, the agency initiated targeted inspections and testing of locally manufactured medical devices and in-vitro diagnostics to ensure they meet international standards.
“These efforts have spurred a migration from importation to local manufacturing and partnerships, resulting in a 30% increase in new facilities. Local manufacturers have responded positively, redesigning their facilities, particularly during the pandemic, supported by infrastructural funds from President Buhari’s administration.” the NAFDAC DG said.
It will be recalled that President Tinubu signed the Executive Order on Friday with the aim of boosting local production of healthcare products
According to the Minister of Health, Professor Ali Pate, targeted healthcare products include pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, devices such as needles and syringes, biologicals, and medical textiles, among others.
The Minister said further that the order is pivotal to the success of the initiative for unlocking the healthcare value chain which was approved in October 2023 by the President.
“Specified items contained in the new Executive Order include Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), excipients, other essential raw materials required for manufacturing of crucial health products like drugs, syringes and needles, long-lasting insecticidal nets and rapid diagnostic kits, among others,” he noted.
“The Order also provides for establishing market-shaping mechanisms such as framework contracts and volume guarantees, to encourage local manufacturers.”
He further noted that the order mandates collaboration between the Ministers of Health, Finance, and Industry, Trade and Investment to develop a “harmonised implementation framework, expediting regulatory approvals and reducing bottlenecks.”
