NEWS: DAILY SUN, Thursday, April 8, 2010 Page 13
NIPRD wants government to support
locally-produced drugs
(By
David Motomo, Yola)
National
Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), has vouched
for the potency of the drugs produced locally in Nigeria, but that enabling
environment should be created by government for drug manufacturing companies to
thrive in Nigeria.
The
Director General and Chief Executive of NIPRD,
Professor Karniyus Gamaniel made the appeal at his country home, Gashalla, in Adamawa State, in an interview with Daily Sun, and insisted that drugs
produced in Nigeria were as potent and effective as those imported into the
Nigerian market.
He
also said that research had shown that drugs produced by certified
manufacturers by relevant Federal Government agencies, could favourably compete
with those produced and manufactured in other parts of the world.
The
NIPRD Chief Executive, however
said that necessary infrastructure, like power and energy, water supply, should
be put in place for them to flourish, adding that favourable environment should
be created for Nigeria drug manufacturers in conjunction with relevant agencies
of government to ensure that good drugs come into Nigerian market and beyond.
The
newly appointed Director General and Chief Executive of NIPRD, said his organization would
work in conjunction with National Agency for Food & Drugs Administration
and Control (NAFDAC) to ensure proper drug
administration in the country.
He
said NIPRD would work strictly
within the framework of the Federal Government drug policy to combat influx of
fake drugs into the country, working assiduously with NAFDAC
in that direction.
The
NIPRD Director General also stated
that, his organization would reach out towards quality of drugs flooding the
Nigerian market while those not fit for consumption by Nigerians would be
discarded from the market.
As
a research Institute, Professor Karniyus Gamaniel said NIPRD would ensure that the sources
of fake drugs are detected while the substances would undergo scientific
process to ascertain their potency for the consumption by Nigerians.
He
added that NIPRD would look into
how the products get into the market, adding that the substandard drug would be
identified.
He
added that NIPRD would advise the
government on how best to improve on drug production in the country.