Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, UNILAG, Prof. Gloria Ayoola Angela Onwuzoo Pharmacists have identified innovation as a way out of the current challenges confronting the nation’s pharmaceutical industry, which has led to persistent hikes in the prices of drugs. The experts proffered the solution during a symposium themed, ‘Turning Innovation into Impactful Pharma-solutions’, organised by the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students, University of Lagos chapter.
The Annual Health Week Symposium was conveyed by the pharmacy students to deliberate on measures to improve the pharmaceutical sector. The keynote speaker and Lead Consultant of Pharmalliance, Adeshina Opanubi, said innovation locally will go a long way in finding solutions to the problems facing the pharmaceutical industry. Opanubi said, “Now that the exchange rate is getting out of hand, we need to look inward and see what we can do locally.
What products are Indigenous to us – Nigeria and Africa, that we can begin to explore? “What import substitution can we begin to do because that is the only way we can build a sustainable and robust local industry? “More companies should begin to look into Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients because the less of that we import, the more it strengthens our local industry. Yes, innovation is the way out. “ The pharmacist also stressed the need for young people to leverage innovations in creating values and ideas that can transform existing policies and bring about sust.
