The federal government has mandated all chief medical directors and medical directors of federal tertiary hospitals to procure needles and syringes solely from NAFDAC-approved local manufacturers.
The new directive was stated in
a circular addressed to all medical directors signed by the Minister of State
for Health, Tunji Alausa, on Friday.
The minister said that the
directive aimed to boost domestic production and shield the country’s
manufacturing sector from the influx of foreign goods.
The circular also mandated
NAFDAC to stop issuing licences for importing foreign-manufactured needles and
syringes.
Alausa said the health sector
had dented local pharmaceutical industries, which produce needles and syringes
and were in serious trouble because of the practice.
NAFDAC warns Customs against
aiding, abetting importation of illegal syringes
He also said that out of the
nine local pharmaceutical companies that produced needles and syringes eight
years ago, six have folded up due to the dumping of largely substandard goods
into the market.
“Mr President has directed that
this must stop. We all agreed to take the necessary steps to immediately remedy
this sad situation. Pursuant to this, NAFDAC has been mandated to stop issuing
licences for the importation of foreign-manufactured needles and syringes.
“It is also to de-list
companies involved in the importation of these products going forward,” he
said.
Mr Alausa added, “All our
tertiary hospitals are hereby directed to procure needles and syringes for your
hospital needs from only the NAFDAC-approved local manufacturers listed below
are listed either directly or through any of their vendors.
“EL-Salmat Pharmaceuticals
Company Ltd Block, Brand Name: Salmaject, HMA Medical Ltd., with brand Name:
Deleject and Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Ltd.”
He also listed some of the
distributors of the listed companies in some states of the Federation for easy
access to assist in making the procurement process easier in the various
institutions.
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