There are
fears that restrictions on flights from India could lead to drug scarcity and
sharp rise in the prices of pharmaceutical products because more than 70 per
cent of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished drug products and
vaccines are imported from India and China.
It
is also feared that another consequence that could arise from the ban is that
it could lead to a surge in falsified, substandard and counterfeit medicines,
as charlatans and unscrupulous businessmen operating from open drug markets
spread across the country may capitalise on any scarcity created and try to
fill the gap.
The
Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 had issued travel advisory for
passengers arriving Nigeria from Brazil, India and Turkey, which required that
any person who has visited the three countries within 14 days preceding travel
to Nigeria, shall be denied entry.
A
public health specialist, consultant clinical pharmacist and Chairman,
Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN), Dr.
Kingsley Chiedu Amibor, told The Guardian that the decision to go ahead with
travel restrictions could be argued to be a proactive decision by government
given the extent of COVID-19 devastations in that country. So, to that extent,
he said the government’s decision could be justified.
“Regarding
the implication of the ban on the pharmaceutical industry, well, that remains
to be seen. Nigeria, till date, imports over 70 per cent of her medicines,
mainly from China and India. That also includes active pharmaceutical
ingredients needed for drug manufacturing.
“Depending
on the duration of the ban, there are bound to be implications for the
pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria. One major fall-out from the ban is that it
could lead to drug scarcity and eventual sky rocketing of prices of
pharmaceutical products. The consolation, however, is that Nigeria will still
have access to APIs and finished products from China, our major partner that is
not affected by the ban,” he said.
Amibor
added: “Nevertheless, there is bound to be disruptions in the supply chain
process depending on the duration of the ban like stated earlier.”
He
is also worried that the ban could lead to a surge in falsified, substandard and
counterfeit medicines as men operating from open drug markets could cash in.
He
said this is why the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria as well as the
Pharmacists Council of Nigeria have both been advocating for closure of these
open drug markets for a long time, for the fact that these markets have done
more harm than good to the health of the Nigerian people.”
Amibor
said arising from the ban is the need for Nigeria to look inwards as far as
medicines security is concerned and begin to promote local content. He said the
country must intensify research into use of phyto medicines or herbal medicines
as alternatives to imported products since a good number of herbs, which abound
in Nigeria, are medicinal in nature.
The
pharmacist said the time has come for Nigeria to demonstrate the political will
to begin funding research institutes in universities and also the National
Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID).
Amibor
further stated: “During the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, I am aware that
the Federal Government, through the Central Bank, of Nigeria, made some
intervention funds available to pharmaceutical companies to enable them revamp
their ailing industries and improve their capacity. Those companies that sought
to procure pharmaceutical equipment and APIs from India may be affected by the
ban, but we cannot say to what extent.
President,
African Fertility Society (AFS) and Academy of Medicine Specialists (AMS),
Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, said the travel ban is an excellent response from the
Federal Government.
Ashiru
said: “The Federal Government should be commended. What the Federal Government
has done is what any responsible government should do. Canada, United States of
America (USA), and some other countries have done the same. Remember that all
our spread in Nigeria came from outside the country- Index case from Italy and
then influx from United Kingdom (UK) and China. Luckily they are putting in
place a process to ensure testing and quarantine. All to prevent a possible
catastrophic situation in the country.”
To
a consultant pharmacist and medical director of MeritHealthcare, Dr. Lolu Ojo,
travel restrictions from India could have great impact on the Nigerian economy
as Indian nationals are everywhere in commerce, manufacturing and finance.
“Most
of our raw materials are from India and the ban on export will have a
tremendous effect on us.
“It
is going to be worst for the Pharmaceutical industry as we depend on India for
finished goods and manufacturing inputs. In effect, scarcity looms and the few
that will be available will become very expensive.
“Rather
than lamenting the India’s export ban, we should brace up for the challenges
ahead.”On how the situation will impact on the Indian community in Nigeria,
Ojo, who is also a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and
the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy (NAP), said:
“Certainly,
this will be a double-edged sword. While India will be able to preserve the
needed supplies during the crisis period, the Indian community in Nigeria will
be adversely affected. Their business will go down and a lot of disruption will
occur.”
Meanwhile,
Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has said the trigger for a
third COVID-19 wave in Lagos is likely to be the importation of new COVID
strains from inbound travelers. “It is important to reiterate at this point
that passengers are still required to be in receipt of a negative COVID-19 PCR
test at least 72hours before departure to and landing in Lagos State, book and
pay for their day seven test either through the National portal
nitp.ncdc.gov.ng and/or the Lagos State portal covid19.lagosstatebiobank.com.
All passengers must have paid for their tests before arrival in Lagos State.
Failure to do this will result in delays at the airport,” he said.
Abayomi
said immediate measures to fully enforce the protocol just announced by the
Federal Government will be adopted for every inbound person which include
banning entry to non-Nigerian passengers who have been in Brazil, India or
Turkey in the last fortnight due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus in
those three nations.
He
said Nigerians and permanent residents of Nigeria who have been in those
countries in the last 14 days will have to undergo mandatory quarantine for a
week in a government-approved facility on arrival and all passengers arriving
in Nigeria will now have to show a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours
of travel rather than the previous 96 hours period.
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