The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy has sounded an alarm over the scarcity and skyrocketing costs of essential medicines.
As a result, it has urged the Federal Government to treat the issue as a matter of national security.
At a recent press briefing in Lagos, senior pharmacists attributed the surge in drug prices to factors such as currency devaluation, unstable foreign exchange rates, and reliance on imported ingredients.
Vice President of NAPHARM, Ifeanyi Atueyi, explained the critical role of healthcare in societal development, stating, “Investing in healthcare transformation is investing in a nation’s future.”
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He pointed out the academy’s efforts to address the crisis, commending the government’s initiatives, including the signing of an executive order on pharmaceuticals by President Bola Tinubu.
Atueyi stressed the need for sustainable support to grow the pharmaceutical industry, ensuring affordable medicines for all.
The academy’s 10th anniversary and investiture of new fellows on September 19 will focus on “Healthcare Transformation & National Development,” with Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, as the special guest.
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