Chioma Umeha
The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of
Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) has announced that it would be
holding its fifth edition of Pharma Expo 2019 on August 28 and 29, 2019, in
Lagos with a view to engage Federal Government to achieve the industry
ambitious goal of accessing ‘N300 billion Industry Expansion and Intervention
fund.’
Making the announcement, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae,
Chairman, PMG-MAN, said the fund would be used for the industry upgrade and
update technologically to become globally competitive, whilst ensuring medicine
security and self-sufficiency.
Ayebae who is also the Managing Director/Chief
Executive Officer, Fidson Healthcare Plc spoke at a press briefing on the
forthcoming 2019 Nigerian Pharma Manufacturers Expo in Lagos.
He said the Expo would attract approximately 200
international companies from six countries and nearly 10,000 pharma companies.
The PMG-MAN boss said the theme of this year’s
exhibition is “Strategic Collaboration for Medicine Security, Affordability and
National Sufficiency.”
He added the theme was carefully chosen to address
the challenges of access to medicine.
The PMG-MAN Chairman explained that with strategic
collaborations with local and international partners, they could reverse the
trend of 70%:30% ratio of medicine importation against local manufacturing.
He further said that the theme reflects on the
strategy to attain Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3,8&9.
“Africa is the last frontier for pharma
manufacturing investment, with the population boom, increased disease burden,
we should answer the clarion call to make Africa and, of course, Nigeria’s
pharma manufacturing hub to cater for the health of our people and reverse the
trend of 70%:30% that contributes in making Nigeria a Pharma Manufacturing
dump,” he said.
For Registration process, he advised that one can
visit the Nigeria Pharm Expo website
write a mail to the PMG-MAN or visit the
Secretariat for more details from the desk officer.
Frank Muonemeh, the Executive Secretary, PMG-MAN,
highlighted the objectives of the pharma expo 2019 to include creating a
platform for pharma stakeholders’ collaboration and engagement that would
enable the upgrade and update of pharma manufacturing technologies in West and
Central Africa.
Muonemeh said they are also to encourage further
development of local manufacturing capacity and production of high quality,
safe and affordable medicines.
On the focal points and highlights, he said
include, special buyers-seller sessions that would bring together over 500
pharma and allied products manufacturing companies in close business
discussions to generate an active business relationship.
Others, he said, are technical symposia which
would highlight discussions on most recent cutting-edge technologies and
practices; understanding the Nigerian and other African countries regulatory
environment where key industry regulators participate.
The rest are; PMG-MAN guided visits to factories –
exhibitors wishing to visit factories or organisations for business networking
would receive a guide from PMG-MAN.
He explained that the focus industry are; pharma
manufacturing industry, allied industries (biotech, nutraceuticals, cosmetics,
beverages, food and distillers, packaging machineries, API- lab reagents and
equipment and utility products and services).
The Executive Secretarylisted the benefits of
participation in the event which is an international one especially for West
Africa and Central African Countries saying, participants will discover new and
modern trends in pharma manufacturing and packaging innovation.
He also said that it will be an opportunity to
meet turnkey consultants, providers of factory GMP upgrades and AHU
installation.
Others are opportunity to meet packaging material
suppliers and solution providers.
Also, participants would acquire insights into
latest industry trends in quality control and assurance.
The Executive Secretary asked those interested to
visit Nigeria Pharma Expo website or PMG-MAN secretariat for detailed
information.
Collaborating earlier views, Prince Agboade
Orimadegun, Managing Director, Orfema Pharmaceuticals Ltd., stressed that the
Federal Government should support local pharmaceutical industry in three ways
which he tagged – “The three Ps, which are Patronise us, Pay us and Protect
us.”
Noting that the government is the main buyer in
any economy, Orimadegun said that many of the products imported into the country
can be produced locally.
Citing antimalarials as an instance, he said; “We
have said this severally on different forum. When we can produce antimalarial,
why do we have to give it to foreign country’s to produce for us?
He frowned at influx of anti-malaria drugs through
global donors under the auspices of reduced prices. He said; “Why should we
take gifts that can kill us, somebody will say, the Federal Government brought
global agencies to bring in antimalarials in Nigeria at reduced price. We know
how much they buy it there and we know how much they sell it to us.
“We don’t need that; we should not be giving jobs
to foreigners, while we are closing shops for the same business in Nigeria.
Give us the support,” Orimadegun said.
The PMG-MAN is an arm of the Manufacturer’s
Association of Nigeria (MAN). It is an umbrella body of more than 150
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Companies.
