President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Prof. Cyril Odianose Usifoh has reacted to the report of the possibility of suspending import duties on drugs among others, for six months by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Usifoh stated this at the just concluded 27th Annual Conference of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP), tagged “Oluyole 2024”, held on Wednesday, June 6, 2024, at De Signature Towers Hotel, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Speaking with CEOAFRICA, the PSN President stated that six months is not enough except the government intends to see if it will pull the price of drugs down, stressing that far-reaching conclusions must be made in the pharmaceutical and health sectors.

The PSN President opined that Nigeria should begin to look at manufacturing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) as the country has enough manpower and what it takes to produce locally.

“It is not fair to keep importing. We must produce from what we have here. If this is properly looked at, we will become exporters of API,” he said.

Speaking on the role of pharmacists in the health sector, Usifoh explained that the docility of the pharmaceutical industry was part of what he sought to improve upon becoming the President of PSN three years ago.

“I said I would improve the image of pharmacy and let people know who pharmacists are. We began to participate in decision making and became part of policy making. We have told pharmacists to learn to stand on their own, do the right thing, speak out where necessary,” Usifoh said,

He continued that “pharmacists now do not only know their rights, but they also want the patients to benefit from their expertise, they are experts in drugs who should be able to counsel patients.”

The President also reiterated the assurance of the best of the 2024 Conference of PSN tagged ‘Uyo 2024’ set to hold at Ibom Hall in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. According to him, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate will deliver the Keynote Speech; and the Chairman of the occasion is the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, CFR.

Usifoh expressed satisfaction that he will handing over to a newly elected President who will further chart the course of the pharmaceutical society.

The Uyo 2024 conference themed “Transforming Pharmaceutical Innovation to Facilitate Equitable Healthcare in an Emerging Economy” will hold from Monday, November 4, 2024, till Saturday, November 9, 2024.