Abstract
Background: The role of the pharmaceutical industry in a country such as Nigeria in the provision of safe, high quality and efficacious pharmaceutical products to meet the healthcare need of the populace, cannot be over-emphasized. This study was undertaken to critically look at the issues affecting Medicines’ Security in Nigeria. Methods: A self-completion questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire was administered to participants of an Industry event in September 2017. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science. Results: A total number of 800 questionnaires were administered to the participants and 529 of the questionnaires were included for analysis. Male participants (58.6%) were more than female participants, all age groups were well represented and more than a third of the respondents had first degree as their minimum qualification. Majority of the respondents (91.3%) indicated that Ministry of Health and its agencies were key to protecting the pharmaceutical sector, while slightly less of that proportion (79.1%) indicated that they patronized Nigeria pharmaceutical products. Almost all the participants (91.7%) supported the need for the local pharmaceutical industry to have access to sustainable funding and other incentives. A similar proportion (89.6%) of the respondents indicated that the local pharmaceutical industry should be prioritized in policy making and implementation. A significant proportion of the study participants (82.3%) indicated that access to medicines in Nigeria is a security issue. Conclusion: To ensure Medicines’ Security and attain medicines self-sufficiency in Nigeria, radical policies must therefore be put in place, together with enabling good business and industrial environment by the government in order to protect, promote and grow the local pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria.
Highlights
Male participants (58.6%) were more than female participants, all age groups were well represented and more than a third of the participants had first degree as their minimum qualification
The findings showed that 79.1% of the participants indicated that they patronized Nigerian pharmaceutical products and 8.6% of the participants did not patronize Nigerian pharmaceutical products
The legislature is responsible for law making, findings from this study suggest that the Ministry of Health needs to be proactive in formulating relevant policies protective of the local pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria especially as this Ministry is responsible for the regulation of the pharmaceutical sector in Nigeria as evidenced by the regulatory activities of Pharmacist Council of Nigeria and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (Amadi and Amadi, 2014; Government of Nigeria, 2005; Olatunji, 2014; Oseni, 2019; Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), 2001)
Summary
It is expected that people should have access to essential medicines at all times and in sufficient amounts (World Health Organization, 2003) This is not the case in Nigeria and other similar settings, as many developing nations are currently faced with challenges associated with a lack of Medicines‟ Security. The policy was designed to increase local production of essential medicines, stimulate export and ensure that all drugs in the National drug distribution system are safe, effective and of good quality. Conclusion: To ensure Medicines‟ Security and attain medicines selfsufficiency in Nigeria, radical policies must be put in place, together with enabling good business and industrial environment by the government in order to protect, promote and grow the local pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria.
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