Stakeholders meet, agree strategies to accelerate local production of antiretroviral medicines and vaccines

A National Symposium on how to make Nigeria self-dependent on the manufacture of antiretroviral medicines and vaccines for HIV, COVID-19, and other communicable diseases, has been successfully organised by the INGO Third Sector Resource, in collaboration with African Business Roundtable and Phoenix Africa. Held on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at the Ladi Kwali Hall of Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, the vent was chaired by Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, represented by one of the ministry’s Directors, Pharm. David Erabhalemon.

The focus of the conference was the review of the existing carrying capacities in-country and the strategies to accelerate local production of vaccines in view of the current global vaccine shortage, and in the light of the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

The highlights of the symposium were as follows:

1. There is urgent need to strengthen the building blocks of Nigeria’s Healthcare System with emphasis on indigenous production of vaccines and allied health materials, and AfCFTA provides an opportunity to achieve this objective. In the light of this, there is need for innovation and creativity in putting Nigeria Heath System on the global map for healthcare provision thereby conserving the funds otherwise used for health tourism and importation of medicines.

2. It is important to formulate appropriate policies and implement them strictly, if we are to be self-reliant as opposed to the current excessive reliance on imported medicines.

3. Deliberate policies to boost health technology transfer should be formulated and implemented as soon as possible.

4. There is an urgent need to encourage the local manufacturing of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) to make Nigeria less dependent on importation of pharmaceutical raw materials.

5. There is also an urgent need to facilitate local manufacture of Antiretroviral (ARVs) medicines and vaccines for People Living with HIV (PLHIVs) and other vaccine preventable diseases, with an aim to supplying local and international markets.

6. A roadmap for local production of ARVs in Nigeria with timelines and peer review mechanism be set up, as well as tax breaks, zero import duty and easier access to foreign exchange for purchase of machinery and raw materials.

7. Government should develop a more robust engagement framework for encouraging Pharma companies and other stakeholders in the domestic production of ARVs, Vaccines and other medicines.

8. An emergency response plan with resources should be established to mitigate the adverse impact of any future pandemic, bio-attack or global disruption in supply chain.

9. Adequate resources should be made available for research and development in healthcare and bio-security.

10. Government to provide access to funding through appropriate financial institutions as soft loans for the purposes of domestic production of ARVs, Vaccines and other medicines.

11. The National Symposium applauds the President’s initiative in earmarking US$200 million through the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority for the initiative that will complement the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ongoing N85 billion Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme to support local researchers in the development of vaccines and other medicines to combat communicable and non-communicable diseases including COVID-19.

12. The National Symposium expresses delight in the growing interest by MDAs in the promotion of local manufacturing capacity in the health sector and calls for greater collaboration.

A communiqué signed by Jamila Mohammed Kolo (Coordinator) and C.K. James Esq

(Secretary) said: “All stakeholders at the National Symposium on the acceleration of vaccine production, ARV medicines and APIs, pledged their support for the implementation of all issues raised and have agreed to set up a Technical Working Group (TWG) to ensure the realisation of the lofty objectives of government towards the health sector.”

Stakeholders in attendance at the symposium included the Federal Ministry of Health represented by Pharm. (Mrs.) Olubunmi Aribeana; the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, represented by Mr. Mohammed Bala; the National Primary Health Care Development Agency represented by Dr. Dogo Bala; Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (Sovereign Wealth Fund), represented by Dr. Tolulope Adewole; Shalina Healthcare represented by Arun Raj Managing Director; Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries represented by Mr. Chukwu Ekwe; Network of People Living With HIV AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) represented by Mr. Emmanuel Clifford National Secretary of the organisation; Younity Synergy Limited represented by Mr. Ugochukwu A. Okoroafor mni; Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) represented by Hajia Khadijat Oladipupo; the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs represented by Mr. Chinonyerem Akparanta; Think BI Ltd represented by Dr. Frank Iheanyi Dike; Pharmacists Council of Nigeria represented by Pharm. Aimola Kehinde; Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria represented by Mrs Eleanor Chinwe Nwaka; and Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) represented by Kolapo Fapohunda.