(By Yusuff Moshood)
The Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) has pledged to work with other stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector to ensure successful implementation of the new National Drug Distribution Guidelines, which is expected to take effect from 30 June.
Chairman of NAIP, Pharm. Gbenga Falabi, stated this while giving his opening remarks at the first bi-monthly meeting/seminar of the association for the year.
At the gathering, which held at NAIP secretariat, Ikeja, last month, Falabi disclosed that, among other things, the birth of the Pharma Industry Stakeholders Forum was to help ensure the successful implementation of the new drug distribution guidelines, while also protecting the interest of stakeholders and ensuring professionalism.
Falabi also noted that the stakeholders, comprising Association of Pharmaceutical Importers of Nigeria (APIN), Nigerian Representatives of Overseas Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (NIROPHARM), Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN), Indian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Importers in Nigeria (IPMIN) and NAIP, are scheduled to meet to discuss the grey areas in the new guidelines and come up with a position.
In his own remarks at the occasion, the Managing Director/CEO of Embassy Pharmaceutical & Chemicals Limited, Pharm. (Sir) Nnamdi Obi, urged pharmacists to embrace collaboration with non-pharmacist entrepreneurs.
Obi noted that one of the best ways to transform the pharmaceutical sector is to work with entrepreneurs who are not pharmacists but are desirous of investing in the sector, adding that this would help take the sector to the next level.
The well-attended NAIP event was also graced by Pharm. Ade Popoola, chairman of PSN Board of Fellows.
