*National Drug
Rehabilitation Centres Underway –Senate
Pharmacists
under the auspices of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have alerted that
the Federal Government decision to roll out the first locally produced vaccines in July 2019 may not be practicable.
Announcing this recently
was Ahmed Yakasai, President, PSN at a press briefing in Lagos.
According to Yakasai, the
plan was aimed at producing vaccines against Yellow fever, Tetanus Toxoid and
Hepatitis B.
He said: “It is
unbelievable that there are so many intrigues. Some people want the process to
fail. There are so many interests, even from international bodies. To some, it
is either they are involved or it fails. But everything is stabilising now, as
the plan is still on, but delayed.
“I have visited the
Yellow fever vaccine plant in Yaba, Lagos and work is ongoing. The project is
capital intensive, but to make it work better, we are encouraging
partnerships.”
May and Baker Plc, an
indigenous pharmaceutical industry, had in June 2017 signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government to begin the production.
The plan also included
developing a centre of excellence for research and development of vaccine
technology and other biologics.
Yakassai disclosed that
the Senate was planning to establish at least, one National Drug Rehabilitation
Centre in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country.
On drug abuse especially
among the youths, he said: “The uses of cough syrup with codeine, tramadol,
rohypnol, and others have experienced an exponential increase.”
The PSN boss said the PSN
had been a strong advocate for local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and the
need for government to create a friendly environment for the sector.
According to Yakasai, the
local production of vaccines and drugs would help the country to respond better
to emergencies, generate increased internal revenue and raise the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP).
He identified the
challenges facing the sector to include poor funding, delayed and unlawful
appointments in regulatory agencies and poor composition structures in the
health sector.
Other challenges are the
lopsided appointments
in federal health institutions, as well as poor cultural attitude to research
and development.
