The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, on Friday, urged the new leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) to take advantage of the House of Representatives’ Open Parliament policy to strengthen its role in the oversight of the health sector, especially about pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.
The Speaker, who was represented by the Chairman of House Committee on Narcotic Drugs, Rep. Abass Adigun (Agboworin), made this appeal at the inauguration of the new President of the Association, which held at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja Continental Hotel.
While congratulating the newly elected President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharm Ibrahim Tanko Ayuba, He noted that the inauguration would open a new chapter in the pharmaceutical industry and drug management in Nigeria.
He also expressed that the Ayuba-led administration is coming at a time when all hands must be put on deck to rid Nigerian society of fake drugs to safeguard the lives and health of the citizens.
While saying that recent discoveries reported by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) on fake drugs are worrisome, he explained that such reports are threats to the good health of Nigerians, and are also negative statements on the integrity of our health sector.
“The inauguration of new leadership for your organization opens a new chapter in the pharmaceutical industry and drug management in Nigeria. Our nation has over the years reported cases of drug abuse and circulation of fake drugs which negatively affect the health of our people most especially the young people.
“Available statistics have shown that over 70% of drugs manufactured in Nigeria are counterfeit and local manufacturers are deeply reportedly involved. Almost daily, we receive reports from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) showcasing cases of confiscated fake drugs, an indication of the danger facing the nation,” he stated.
The lawmaker who explained that while the work of NAFDAC is commendable, there is also the assumption, right or wrong, that some of those involved in the circulation of these types of drugs, also bear the appellation pharmacist.
He however called on the new President of PSN to be courageous, firm, focused, and result-oriented in the task of cleaning up the pharmaceutical sector, in a bid to ensuring that only registered and approved vendors are encouraged to trade in non-OTC drugs.
“This regulation has become necessary to protect the health of Nigerians,” he said.
He encouraged the PSN as a critical stakeholder in the healthcare sector of the economy of our dear country, to take advantage of the House of Representatives’ Open Parliament policy to make contributions that would enable the making of laws, or, amendment of existing laws, that would strengthen its role in the oversight of the health sector especially about pharmaceutical
products in Nigeria.
The event equally featured the investiture of 165 new fellows of the prestigious society, where the lawmaker tasked all the new fellows to become ambassadors of not just the PSN but the pharmaceutical sector of our economy.
The inauguration played a host to some dignitaries including the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; the General Managing Director and GCEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mele Kyari; Director General of NAFDAC, Mrs Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye and a host of others.
