The Lagos State government has set plans in place to establish a drug manufacturing agency in the state, the Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, has said.
Abayomi whileat the opening of the 7th Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers’ Expo (NPME) in Lagos on Wednesday, September 4, said the state government has initiated process to establish the drug manufacturing agency.
The commissioner said the aim of establishing the agency is to promote access to quality drugs and consumables in the state and across Nigeria.
At the Expo themed “Fostering Partnership and Innovation to unlock the Pharma Manufacturing Value Chain In Nigeria, Central and West Africa”, 55 companies from both China and India, and 100 PMG-MAN members were all in attendance or represented.
Further speaking, Abayomi said:”The Lagos State government is already writing a draft law on the drug management agency , it will be submitted to the cabinet and passed on to the Lagos Assembly.
“Many states have done it. We are left behind because we have so many industrial platforms in Lagos and Ogun state, and most of these drugs are produced in our vicinity.
“This will enable Lagos not only to promote local manufacturing, but to also promote the idea of total quality assurance, including random testing alongside NAFDAC, and form a collaboration with the private sector.”
The commissioner also commended PMG-MAN for championing the move to boost the local production of drugs and its sufficiency in Nigeria.
“In so doing, we must ensure that we’re not putting our citizens at risk because a substandard drug can result in severe morbidity, sickness or death,” the commissioner said.
