Nigerian government plans local production of anti-malaria drugs

To further reduce the cost of anti-malaria drug and reduce malaria incidence to the barest minimum, the Nigerian ministry of health says it has plans to produce them in the country. While briefing the press on the 2011 World Malaria Day on Tuesday in Abuja, Onyebuchi Chukwu, the Minister of Health said pharmaceutical industries in Nigeria are not producing the drugs because they are not certified by the World Health Organization to do so.

The Ministry is collaborating with the Bank of Industries on this project. “In collaboration with the Bank of Industry we have started the process of strengthening our pharmaceutical industries to meet WHO certification to produce these drugs locally,” Mr Chukwu said and added that there are issues in their local pharmaceutical sector.

“For instance, when you hear of global fund many of the aid given are in form of supplied commodities but they will only patronise companies that are WHO certified. To have WHO certification there must be minimum standards in place,” he stated.