Adewale Oladigbolu Janet Ogundepo The National Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria has lauded President Bola Tinubu’s executive order to introduce zero tariffs, excise duties, and value-added tax on imported pharmaceutical products and inputs. Chairman of the body, Adewale Oladigbolu, in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Healthwise, described the order as a welcome development and a step taken in the right direction. He, however, argued that the two-year limit was unsustainable to achieve a stable reduction in drug prices.
The ACPN president noted that by the time the order was implemented and considering the months spent on shipping, the order would have expired, resulting in a return to the status quo. He further called on the Federal Government to offer grants to pharmaceutical industries and close down the open drug market to ensure growth in the sector. On Friday, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali, stated that Tinubu signed an executive order to increase local production of healthcare products such as pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and devices such as needles and syringes, biological and medical textiles, among others.
The order, which will be implemented by agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, would grant special waivers and exemptions for the products for two years. Pate on his X.