By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
In line with the Executive Order 3, EO3, for preference to local contents, the National Agency for Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has parleyed to ensure Nigerians enjoy sustainable access to affordable, and quality medicines.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye noted that new collaboration enables NAFDAC and NHIA to work with Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturers who have been approved by NAFDAC as meeting Good Manufacturing practice (GMP) requirements for the procurement of needed medicines.
According to her, these manufacturing companies have also had their products registered by NAFDAC, which means that all the attributes of quality, safety, and efficacy pertaining to these products have been duly assured by NAFDAC.
This means that all the attributes of quality, safety, and efficacy pertaining to these products have been duly assured by NAFDAC.
The Executive Order 3 (EO3) on support for local content in public procurement by the Federal government requires that All MDAs shall grant preference to local manufacturers of goods and service providers in their procurement of goods and services.
According to the NAFDAC boss, access to affordable, quality health care for all Nigerians is key on the path to achieving Universal Health Coverage.
In compliance with the EO3 guidelines, the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pharmaceutical Companies and Drugs Management Organizations (DMOs) for production of 33 different drugs to address the perennial problem of out-of-stock syndrome in the nation’s health facilities.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has launched the operational guidelines for the 2022 National Health Insurance Authority Act as part of efforts to ensure all Nigerians have access to affordable healthcare services.
NAFDAC has in the past five years developed a GMP Roadmap, which continuously assures that pharmaceutical manufacturers in Nigeria remain compliant with global best practices.
The GMP roadmap was designed to guide and help local manufacturers upgrade their facilities and procedures in line with current good manufacturing practice requirements. This initiative has enabled the Agency to establish a baseline for monitoring compliance.
NAFDAC will continue to collaborate with NHIA to ensure that the terms spelled out in Executive Order 3(EO3) will to be implemented to enable the attainment of Universal Health Coverage as specified in the National Drug Policy, Adeyeye assured.
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