The Federal government has been called to give the pharmaceutical sector access to foreign exchange so that they can purchase the raw materials they need for drug production.
This advice was given at a training for pharmacists in Nigeria by the world health organisation.
Health corespondent, Oluwatoyin Aboh reports that the pharmacists said the training couldn’t have come at no better time than now, because of the many issues militating against drug production in Nigeria.
They noted that majority of drugs used by Nigerians are imported from India and other countries,this they say makes counterfeiting to thrive.
The Pharmacists also noted that the 20 % Import Adjustment Tax recently released by the Federal Ministry of Finance on imported raw material for drug production could have up the prices of drugs.They urged the Federal Government to immediately review the 20 % Import Adjustment Tax .
The pharmacists also use the opportunity to call on NAFDAC to be alive to rise to its responsibility of fishing out dealers in fake and substandard medical consumables in order to safeguard the health of Nigerians.
