The former Governor of Anambra State,
Mr. Peter Obi, has commended Nigerian pharmacists for their efforts and
contributions towards the health of the country, but encouraged them to do more
towards achieving self-sufficiency in the manufacture of drugs.
Obi was speaking on the theme, “Weathering
the Storm of Economic Downturn: Now and Beyond”, at the 2017 Annual Dinner of
the Board of Fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria held at NICON
Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
Reviewing the ups and downs in the
industry, he submitted that a lot still needed to be done. He said it was not
cheering that countries like India and China that were at par with Nigeria in
the development of the pharmaceutical industry had all recorded phenomenal
growth, while Nigeria, buffeted by adverse environment, did not record
appreciable progress.
Comparing the contribution of the
industry to the economic growth of countries under reference, Obi said:
“Nigeria GDP is 400 Billion Dollars and the pharmaceutical industry contributes
0.25/0.30%, which is a maximum of 1 - 1.2 Billion Dollars. The GDP of China is
12 Trillion Dollars and its pharmaceutical industry contributes 1 - 1.25, being
120-150 Billion Dollars. The GDP of India is about 2.3 Trillion Dollars and its
pharmaceutical industry contributes about 2% (40 Billion Dollars).”
Obi regretted that the industry
could not build on the initial progress it recorded in different areas. He used
the issue of manufacture of vaccines as an example, saying: “Nigeria owned a
vaccine Production Laboratory way back in 1948, which produced small box,
yellow fever and anti-rabies vaccines. It was shut down in 1980 for upgrade and
increased capacity.
Unfortunately, this never
materialised with successive governments’ policy changes even after millions of
US Dollars was spent to bring in some sophisticated automatic freeze drying
equipment. One such equipment procured in 1995 for the sum of US dollar 1.2
Million is still in a crate on the ground of the Federal Vaccines Production
Laboratory in Yaba.”
Revealing that local manufacturers
covered only 20% of the nation’s needs, with virtually all the raw materials
being imported, Obi charged them to seek ways to cover 50% of the drug needs of
the country in 10 years, by, among others, sourcing raw materials like starch
locally.
He further advised them to study by
what magic India got where they are today. His words: “So the question to ask
is what we can learn from India on what they did yesterday that brought them to
where they are today. India, for example, is currently the 3rd largest supplier
of raw materials in the world, coming from being a net importer 30 to 40 years
ago. When India decided about 30 years ago to be self-sufficient in
pharmaceutical raw material, they did not have the competitive and comparative
advantages they have today, they worked for it.”
Reminiscing on their success, Obi
said: “India and China where once where we are in terms of their importation,
consequent upon not manufacturing enough for their needs. Today, they are not
only producers of raw materials and finished products sufficient for their own
markets, but are now major net exporters to the global markets, earning huge
foreign exchange for their countries.”
Concluding, the former Governor
regretted that in the world Pharmaceutical market of today which he said worth
a Trillion Dollars, that Nigerian manufacturers and businesses are completely
shut out as they are not exporters.
Tags
Politics