The Federal Government has mandated all Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and Medical Directors (MDs) of Federal Tertiary Hospitals to procure needles and syringes solely from NAFDAC-approved local manufacturers.
The new directive is aimed at boosting domestic production and shielding the country’s manufacturing sector from the influx of foreign goods.
The circular also mandated NAFDAC to stop issuing licenses for the importation of foreign-manufactured needles and syringes.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated that the health sector had identified local pharmaceutical industries that produce needles and syringes which were in serious trouble due to the practice of importing foreign goods.
He noted 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.
The Minister said “Mr President has directed that this must stop. We all agreed to take the necessary steps to immediately remedy this sad situation.”
According to this, NAFDAC has been mandated to stop issuing licenses for the importation of foreign-manufactured needles and syringes and to de-list companies involved in the importation of these products going forward.