Lara Adejoro The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and pharmacists across the country have commended President Bola Tinubu for signing an Executive Order to increase local production of healthcare products. The pharmacists who spoke in different interviews with our correspondent on Saturday, however, preferred other policies the government can implement to strengthen local pharmaceutical capacity and the industry. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, on Friday, announced on X handle that in a transformative move to revitalise the Nigerian health sector, President Tinubu signed the executive order to increase local production of healthcare products, including pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, devices such as needles and syringes, biologicals, medical textile, and among others.
He said Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi is to take the next steps towards codifying the new order. According to Pate, the order is pivotal to the success of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, which was approved in October 2023 by the President. He explained that the order introduces zero tariffs, excise duties, and VAT on specified machinery, equipment, and raw materials, aiming to reduce production costs and enhance our local manufacturers’ competitiveness.
Specified items include Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, excipients, and other essential raw materi.
