By Vincent Kalu
The Association of Pharmaceutical Products Marketers of Nigeria (APPMN) has called on the Federal Government and pharmaceutical industry regulators to encourage investments in pharmaceutical industry to save looming scarcity of life-saving drugs.
The Association’s President, Chief Gabo Onyejemuo, who doubles as the Managing Director, Gabo Pharmaceutical Industry Limited, made the call on the sidelines of events marking his 40th wedding anniversary in Lagos over the weekend.
Flanked by the cream of pharmaceutical industry players during the event, Onyejemuo warned that the country might sooner than later face grave shortages in pharmaceutical products supply if urgent measures were not taken.
He lamented the grave deterioration in foreign exchange rate and increasing cost of imports of both finished products and raw materials for manufacturing.
Chief Onyejemuo pointed out that the drug needs of the country were in excess of lean supply which he said may drive costs too high, and make healthcare needs unaffordable to poor masses.
He therefore called on key stakeholders to encourage pharmaceutical products marketers, particularly his members, whom he said have been instrumental to making drugs readily available and affordable to the populace.
According to him, the cost of drugs and medications would have hit the roof tops if not for the investments of the members of the Association of Pharmaceutical Products Marketers of Nigeria.
“Our members are the reason why Nigerians can still afford to buy drugs. Without some of us who have invested massively in the industry, drugs would have become a luxury,” Onyejemuo told newsmen.
He urged pharmaceutical industry professionals to stop antagonising one another, and work harmoniously as one towards addressing the country’s healthcare challenges.
He called for the repeal of the law requiring two pharmaceutical stores to keep a distance apart from each other, stressing that population density in cities like Lagos has made the law irrelevant today.
Recalling over a decade-long legal battle between his members and pharmaceutical industry regulators, Onyejemuo said his wife was the reason he pursued the course of justice, and eventually won the cases for his members in a court of competent jurisdiction.