In a major step towards boosting Nigeria’s healthcare sector, the Presidential Initiative on Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP).
Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Pate made the disclosure in a post on his X account on Monday.
According to the Minister, the partnership aims to establish a centralized facility for bioequivalence studies and advanced analytical laboratory services, ensuring the quality of locally produced pharmaceutical products and reducing dependence on imports.
Expected results
Mr Pate said the initiative aims for 70 per cent of local production and the creation of 30,000 new jobs by 2030, boosting economic growth and improving health outcomes.
He said the partnership with USP will boost local pharmaceutical production and regulatory oversight, aligning with healthcare sector renewal initiatives.
He said: “Through the MoU, we will enable local production of complex formulations and enhance regulatory oversight capabilities through the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
“This aligns with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and the Renewed Hope Agenda. As we move towards our goal of reimagining Nigeria’s health sector, step by step, with confidence.”
Article page with promotion of financial support
Mr. Pate thanked PVAC Coordinator Abdu Mukhtar and USP Vice President of Global Health Jude Nwokike for championing medicines quality and their unwavering commitment to the transformative partnership.
Nigeria's health sector faces numerous challenges, including a heavy reliance on imported pharmaceuticals, limited local production capacity, quality control issues with locally produced medicines, inadequate regulatory oversight, and a brain drain in the health sector.
To address these challenges, the Nigerian government launched the PVAC, an initiative that aims to improve healthcare outcomes, increase local production and reduce dependence on imports by unlocking the healthcare value chain from research to production.
USP is a nonprofit scientific organization that sets pharmaceutical quality standards, provides training, testing and certification for pharmaceutical manufacturers, and has a global presence with offices in the United States, Africa, Asia and Latin America.