A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 26th ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2023 OF THE ASSOCIATION OF INDUSTRIAL PHARMACISTS OF NIGERIA

Enugu City

A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 26th ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF INDUSTRIAL PHARMACISTS OF NIGERIA (NAIP) HELD FROM 5th– 8th OF JULY, 2023 AT CARLTON SWISS GRAND HOTELS LIMITED, 47B, NZA STREET, INDEPENDENCE LAYOUT, BEHIND GOVERNMENT HOUSE, ENUGU, ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

1.0 Introduction

The Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) is a technical arm of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and the professional body of all registered and licensed Pharmacists in the Pharmaceutical Industry within Nigeria, dedicated to the promotion of Pharmacy profession, Pharmacy education/research and Pharmacy practice within the Industrial sector. NAIP having over 500 companies as corporate members representing over 1000 Pharmacists from all over Nigeria, held the 26th edition of its annual national conference on July 5th – 8th July, 2023 at the Carlton Swiss Grand Hotels Limited, 47B, Nza Street, Independence Layout, behind Government House, Enugu, Enugu State.

The conference involved a keynote address on the theme, sessions on the sub-theme, and panel discussions to brainstorm and provide solutions to the myriad of problems plaguing Nigerian Industrial Pharmacists.

The theme of the conference: The Role of the Pharmaceutical Industry Towards Achieving Medicines Security in Nigeria was addressed by the keynote address given by Prof. S. I. Ofoefule, FPSN of the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.      

The first technical session titled: A New Growth Formula for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in Nigeria was by Pharm. Kunle Oyelana, FPSN, MD/CEO Glaxosmithkline, Nigeria.

The second technical session titled: Attracting and Retaining Contract or Toll Manufacturing, Givers and Receivers Perspectives was delivered by Pharm. Yetunde Adigun, Technical Director, Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited.

The Conference also featured a Panel discussion with Prince Chijioke Ofomata FPSN as the lead discussant while the Panelists included Pharm. Mrs. Ifeanyinwa Grace Ohiaeri, Director, PCN Southeast; Pharm. Valentine Okelu, Executive Director Sales/ Marketing, May & Baker PLC; Pharm. Ekene Christopher Aguolu, MD/CEO Ecomed, Prof. S. I. Ofoefule, FPSN of the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Pharm. Declan Ugwu from NAFDAC.

2.0 Attendance /Acknowledgements

The opening ceremony was chaired by His Royal Majesty, Igwe Oranu Chris Chidume Eze Ana-Ukwu, the Eze Igulube of Omor, Anambra State. Other dignitaries present included Dr. Ifeanyi Agujiobi, Permanent Secretary, Enugu State Ministry of Health representing the Executive Governor of Enugu State; Prof. Cyril Odianose Usifo FPSN, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN); Pharm. Udeorah Egbuna FPSN, Deputy President PSN South; Pharm. Gbenga Falabi FPSN, National Secretary PSN; Pharm. (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa FPSN, OFR, Immediate Past President, PSN; Pharm. Ken Onuegbu FPSN, National Chairman NAIP; Pharm. Amaka Okafor, representative of PCN Registrar; Pharm. Madubuattah Louis, representative of DG NAFDAC; Pharm. Mnena Scholastica Lan FPSN, National Chairperson of ALPS; Dr. Ambrose George Ugwu, Registrar, Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Pharm. Festus Ejepke, Chairman PSN Enugu state; Rev. Sis. Nora Morris Anyim representing the Mother General of Daughters of Divine Love; Rev. Sis. Jane Francis Chioke, CEO of Faith based Centre Medical Foundation; Dr. Ezekiel Olugbenga Akinkunmi, National Chairman of NAPA; MD/CEOs of Pharmaceutical companies across the Country.

The conference was also attended by NAIP Executive and Council members as well as NAIP delegates from eleven states including Abia, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Oyo, Imo and Plateau states.

Deep appreciation goes to all the executive committee members, members of the conference planning committee, our sponsors, special guests, association s members, secretariat staff, vendors and all those who contributed to the success of the conference.

 

3.0 Summary of Discussions

The following is a summary of discussions made during the speeches, paper presentations, technical sessions, panel discussions, and contributions of participants:

Nigeria contributes less than 2% to the global pharmaceutical market.

A precondition to medicine security is localized manufacturing.

Local production of essential medicines has the potential to reduce the infiltration of falsified and substandard medicines as well as improve the economy of the country.

Challenges facing the pharmaceutical industries include lack of infrastructure, weak industrial linkages, weak technology, and engineering base, lack of petrochemical industries to enable API production, poor funding, inadequate incentives, high and multiple taxation, dysfunctional supply chain, brain drain of professionals, inconsistent fiscal and monetary policies, etc.

In addition, Nigeria fully relies on other Countries like India and China for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and excipients and this dependency is worrisome.

The Nigerian Pharmaceutical Industry due to its size and clout can be trusted to produce and distribute quality medicines and is expected to take the lead in solving Africa’s problem.

Collaboration is key for the Pharmaceutical Industry operators as well as collaborations with others like academia and research institutes.

Contract and toll manufacturing should be explored instead of attempting to embark on full-scale production particularly where there are inadequate funds.

The development of actionable strategies that can be implemented is very important to promote medicine security in the Country with the new Government policy of 60% local and 40% imports in focus.

Since NAFDAC is not a business agency, they should be wary of the levy, fees, and stringent policies and rules imposed on Pharmaceutical Companies.

The issue of restriction of the number of products to be registered per quarter by NAFDAC is not acceptable because it sets pharmaceutical companies backward in terms of planning, and it reduces the employment of Pharmacists as well as business opportunities.

The issue of the Common Technical Document (CTD) format of dossiers is still a major hindrance to the registration of pharmaceutical products.

4.0 Key Outcomes and Decisions

In the light of the observations made, conference arrived at the following:

  1.  A holistic approach requiring the active involvement of all stakeholders as regards medicine security in Nigeria must be employed.
  2. There is an urgent need for the drafting and implementation of a National strategic plan (Master plan) for the development of Pharmaceutical Industries in Nigeria. The drafting of the blue print should be championed by NAIP and PSN.
  3. Regulatory bodies must be humane in their approach to ensure the quality of drugs being produced as well as promote local manufacturing.
  4. Cooperation and collaboration without unnecessary competition among Pharmaceutical Industry in the form of contract manufacturing is the way to go. However, well written contract agreements must be in place.
  5. Government must initiate and implement policies and Incentives that will promote, protect and grow the local Pharmaceutical Industries.
  6. Government must also provide the enabling environment for pharmaceutical companies to thrive. This includes the provision of infrastructural facilities, ensuring the peace and security of lives and properties among others.
  7. CTD format of dossier should not be made as a compulsory requirement by regulatory bodies for locally consumed products except if they have to be exported.
5.0 Follow-up Actions

The conference participants expressed their commitment to partner with the regulatory bodies, Government as well as other stakeholders in activities that would be leveraged towards ensuring the availability of essential medicines consummating the quest for quality health for all Nigerians.

NAIP will set up a committee that will come up with a blueprint to enhance medicines security in the Country which will be presented to the Government for consideration.

6.0 Closing

NAIP, as a major stakeholder in the Nigerian Pharmaceutical sector, reaffirms its strong commitment to providing education, strategic guidance, ethical practice in achieving medicines security in Nigeria thereby ensuring the health of Nigerians.

Pharm. Ken Onuegbu FPSN
National Chairman

Pharm. Joy Adeshina FPCPharm
National Secretary

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NAIP Launches Lecture Series, Strategises to Survive Dwindling Economy

NAIP Conference 2022

Following the continuous dwindling of the Nigerian economy, with its many resultant effects, industrial pharmacists recently assembled in Lagos to find lasting strategies that can be adopted to ensure that the nation’s pharmaceutical industry survives.

The gathering was the maiden edition of the Biennial Lecture Series of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) and the theme of the maiden lecture series is “Dwindling Economy: What’s next for the Pharmaceutical Industry in Nigeria”.

While speaking at the event, the former Minister of Health, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, who was the chairman of the occasion, noted that the question of what is next for the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria has been on the front burner for a long time and the current topic is a refresher of the subject. He said he has been making efforts to ensure that pharmacy succeeds, not just at the industrial level but also at the retail level, adding that he has confidence that pharmacy will succeed in Nigeria.

Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi pointed out that Nigeria’s economy is currently facing challenges, but anything that has a beginning must have an end. The former health minister noted that there is hope for the industry and every pharmacist in the country has reason to be happy, noting that the signing of the Pharmacy Bill into law calls for a happy moment for the industry.“With the signing of the Bill into law, there must be a breakthrough for the profession,” he said.

According to him, there have been promises by ministers and the government towards the advancement of the industry over the years, but the reason the industry has not worked as expected is because of many challenges bedeviling it. He, however, pointed out that only pharmacists themselves can make the industry work.

He, therefore, called for a concerted effort by stakeholders in the industry to redefine the strategy for local manufacturing and also reformulate the way to execute the appropriate measures that will enhance the industry to thrive in the face of the dwindling economy.

Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi said “there is more to Pharmacy than pharmacists, just as there is more to banking than bankers; there is also more to law than lawyers; there is equally more to medicine than doctors; so we would no longer work in silos as a professional group, we should network with the kind of Act we now have and make sure we do every necessary thing that we need to do to actualize our vision through networking.

“I also want to say to all pharmacists in Nigeria, that we must all have a positive mindset towards the practice of this profession. To be a millionaire, you must think like a millionaire, to be a successful pharmacist, you begin to think like one. When you are looking for something you will get it. If you want to sing, you can always get a song to sing. Whatever that needs to be done should be done”.

On his part, the President, of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Prof. Cyril Usifoh, said various industries are currently passing through a lot of difficulties including the pharmaceutical industry. He called for urgent support for local drug manufacturers to ensure that quality locally-made drugs are available for Nigerians at affordable rates. He also reiterated the need for thorough networking to get the industry to its peak.

The Chairman of the association, Pharm. Ken Onuegbu, on his part, said the essence of the lecture is to enable stakeholders to discuss and fashion out realistic ways to deal with contemporary issues facing industrial pharmacists and the nation generally. He noted that though the Nigerian economy is facing a difficult time, the economic challenges are not peculiar to Nigeria, adding that there is always a solution to every challenge.

Onuegbu averred that the present time is the time players in the industry should go back home and think properly to see how the cost of operation can be reduced and then scale up the effectiveness of the operation team. He called on players in the industry to adopt a survival strategy to scale through the nation’s current economic turbulence. He also expressed optimism that the current economic challenges will definitely go down in no distant time.

The keynote speaker at the event, who is the Managing Director, of Access Bank PLC, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna, ably represented by the Deputy Managing Director, Mrs. Chizoma Okoli, stated that there are always opportunities in calamity, insisting that there are opportunities in the current Nigerian dwindling economy.

He called on stakeholders in the industry to leverage the opportunities at this period to enable the industry to thrive. He recommended that pharmaceutical companies should consider merging, stressing that acquisition and collaboration are some of the major strategies that will help the pharma industry to thrive and overcome the current economic crunch.

He said “merger and acquisition is a key strategy to consider to achieve the aspiration of the industry. Mergers and acquisitions do work. Various companies should consolidate in order to be able to compete more at the global level. I admit that the government needs to support the industry with the provision of policy and availability of forex but the industry needs to play its part. Stakeholders should always have it in mind that 10% of 1000 is better than 100% of 10”.

Another vital move that will help the pharmaceutical industry thrive in the current dwindling economy, according to the speaker, is to ensure an increase in the number of manufacturing companies and the volume of production. He also called on all the stakeholders in the industry not just to have aspiration but to also pursue it.

“What is your aspiration for the industry? You need to have global aspirations while still playing at the local level. Stakeholders in the industry also need to collaborate and I believe all these will be a game changer for the pharmaceutical industry in the face of the current dwindling economic”, Ogbonna said.

NAIP also used the occasion to inaugurate members of its board of trustees with Prof. Lere Baale as its chairman. The association also recognized some personalities in the industry with various awards. The Chairman/Founder, Juhel Pharma Nigeria Limited, Pharm. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okoye, bagged the association’s Icon of Pharmacy Award, 2022; while Pharm. Igwe Alexander Uzo Onyido and the Senior Vice-President for West Africa and Integrated Commercial Solution Worldwide Healthcare Limited, Mr. Santosh Kumar M, received NAIP’s Outstanding Leadership Award 2022.

Also, the Managing Director, Embassy Pharmaceuticals Limited, Pharm. Nnamdi Obi and the immediate past Chairman of NAIP, Pharm. Ignatius Anukwu was honored with Distinguished Service Award 2022. In the same vein, the Managing Director, Miraflash Nigeria Limited, Pharm. Moses Olurotimi Oluwalade and the Managing Director, Megachem Nigeria Limited, Pharm. Sam Ubachukwu bagged the NAIP Eminent Person Award 22.


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