From Saka Bolaji, Minna
The Federal government has assured special preference to the local manufacturing of essential pharmaceutical products in the country to ensure affordable and accessible health care facilities in Nigeria.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo gave the assurance yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 89th Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria PSN held in Minna.
He said they must resist counterfeit and sub-standard manufacturing in the efforts to ensure patronage by Nigerians.
Osinbajo stated that the government was not unaware of the challenges confronting the industry but will remove the barriers to ensure competition of the variety products in the country.
Represented by the Minister of Health, Prof. Issac Adewole, who emphasized on the vital roles played by the pharmacists in Nigeria taken cognizance of our population and applauded them of their selfless service to the people both in public and Private sector.
He added that government was making efforts to ensure stable and sustainable economic development and reducing dependence on oil to other sectors of the economy.
Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello in his speech called for as a matter of necessity give greater priority to quality, affordable and accessible health care in the country and needed increased funding to ensure provision of health facilities and services.
Represented by the Speaker of the Niger state assembly, Hon. Ahmed Marafa, Sani Bello said that the state will partner with the PSN to ensure affordable healthcare facilities in the state hence told them to intensify efforts in curbing sub-standard pharmaceutical drugs in the country.
The National President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai in his welcome address told them on the need to be result oriented and update their professional experience and knowledge.
Yakasai informed that a new approach of ‘Pharma Cyntricism’ to embraced a new way considering present the recession in the country to ensure social and economic way of development.
He disclosed that PSN has so far assisted the IDPs in Bornu state with free pharmaceutical drugs worth N50 million while he assured to sustained.
Many Pharmacists and friends of PSN received awards from the association during the event and witnessed exhibition of various pharmaceutical drugs to mark the ceremony held in Minna, Niger state capital.
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