To encourage local drug production in Nigeria, the Osun State Branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has called for removing tariffs on imports of essential drug-production commodities.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo on activities marking the 2024 Pharmacy Week, which will be held between 23rd and 20th September 2024, the state chairman, Mr Michael Ayodeji Omoniyi, noted that such removal would reduce the cost of drugs in Nigeria.
He disclosed that the association chose “Global Health Needs: Expanding Roles of Pharmacists in Beating Current Healthcare Challenges” as the theme for the 2024 celebrations because it believes that pharmacists need to expand their roles further to face the challenges hindering their effective meeting of global health needs.
He debunked the social media report that a pharmacist allegedly stole drugs from OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and sold them in his wife’s shop, saying that the person involved was neither a pharmacist nor the drugs stolen from OAUTHC, Ile-Ife.
According to the chairman, the programme includes health work, a visit to the orphanage, a carrier talk, an award presentation, Jumat and a thanksgiving service.
Also speaking, the chairman of the anniversary planning committee, Mr Nurudeen Ajibola Adebayo, warned Nigerians against taking concoctions claiming to be herbs.
He noted that many people are suffering ailments, including kidney-related ailments, as a result of indiscriminate consumption of roadside concoctions.