The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria has appealed to the Federal Government to remove import duty on the raw materials for medicines in order to encourage local production.
The National Chairman of the association, Mr Adewale Oladigbolu, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Lagos.
He spoke against the backdrop of the recent exit of some multinational pharmaceutical firms from Nigeria, leading to scarcity and an increase in the prices of drugs.
The ACPN chairman said the Federal Government needed to encourage local drug manufacturers by waiving import duty on raw materials.
He also called for a strategic policy on prescribing and dispensing medicines to grow local brands.
Oladigbolu appealed to physicians to prescribe medicine in their generic name instead of brands.
On the exit of pharmaceutical companies and its impact on drugs, both in price and availability, Oladigbolu advised companies to give prior notice to NAFDAC.
He noted that regulations were in place to ensure that companies that intend to exit notify the Securities and Exchange Commission to protect shareholders.
According to him, similar regulations should be introduced and implemented through the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to ensure medicine availability and protect patient safety.
