Pharm. Frank Mounemeh, the Executive Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (PMGMAN), continues to reiterate his group’s readiness to host exhibitors from different parts of the world in what he terms another landmark event in the Nigerian Pharma industry. In this exclusive interview with Patrick Iwelunmor, he sheds light on the forthcoming Expo, stressing its significance to the local pharma manufacturing industry. EXCERPTS:
The 7th Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers’ Expo is at hand. What should we expect?
The 7th Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers Expo is going to be another landmark event, showcasing the industry’s strength in capability, sustainability and effective partnerships. We anticipate the participation of key players in the pharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem from Nigeria, West and Central Africa, Europe, and Asia. The event to be held in Lagos, Nigeria at the Balmoral Center Sheraton Hotels Towers Ikeja, will serve as a platform for networking, partnerships, and business-to-business opportunities.
Approximately 110 international exhibitors are expected to showcase cutting-edge processing machinery, pharmaceutical inputs such as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and excipients, packaging machinery, water treatment systems, and analytical and biotech laboratory instruments. Local pharmaceutical manufacturing companies will also exhibit their finished products, demonstrating their capabilities. We are honoured to have high profile attendees, amongst which are the CEOs of National Regulatory Agencies (NRAs) from West and Central Africa, CEOs of turnkey facility consultants, development partners, country lead etc. The keynote address will be delivered by Professor Padmashree Gehl Sampath, CEO of the Africa Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation and Senior Special Advisor to the President of the African Development Bank on pharmaceuticals and health infrastructure.
How timely do you think this expo is, considering the Nigerian pharmaceutical space?
This Expo is particularly timely as we mark 40 years of advocacy for medicine security, a journey that began on October 24, 1987, with 20 founding members commissioned by the then Minister for Health, Prof. Ransome Kuti. Today, we represent over 120 companies committed to closing the gap in access to medicine in Nigeria, NAFDAC database states 160 plus. Our theme, “40 Years of Advocacy: Fostering Partnership & Innovation to Unlock the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Value Chain in Nigeria, Central and West Africa,” reflects our achievements, challenges, and future aspirations. Aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy of “Unlocking the Value Chain in the Healthcare Sector,” the Expo will feature the Honorable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare as the Special Guest of Honor. He will officially open the event and lead discussions on the opportunities arising from recent government policies aimed at stimulating the industrialization of the life sciences and pharmaceutical sector.
What can you say about attendance for this expo?
We are building on the success of #NPME2022, which attracted over 1,700 participants. We expect an even larger turnout this year. The event offers unparalleled business networking opportunities across the entire industry spectrum.
What really is the relationship between PMG-MAN and the Indian Partners – GPE Expo Ltd?
This is the 7th Edition and we have partnered with GPE EXPO ltd India in all the shows. We have a long-standing partnership with the firm, which also are the organizers of Asia Pharma Expo, Arab Pharma Expo, and Africa Pharma Expo (formerly East Africa Expo). Their technical support has been instrumental in ensuring the success of our events.
In what ways do you think this expo will impact the Nigerian pharma industry?
The Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers’ Expo is a key initiative of PMGMAN, designed to support the ambitious goal of reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines from the current 65% to 30%. Our vision is to achieve self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical production, with 70% of medicines being produced locally. As you know, the expo is a biennial event, which plays a critical role in helping local pharmaceutical companies scale up production, upgrade their facilities, and capability to be able to produce quality-assured finished formulations, including biologics and innovative products.
In addition, the event also provides a platform for industry players to engage with turnkey consultants, suppliers, and contractors. High-level policymakers seizes the opportunity to make bold policy statements on trade and regulation, and to clarify topical policies, such as the PEO implementation, NAFDAC’s 5PLUSFive policy, and regional market access and technology transfer in Africa for Pharma and life sciences.
Most of the discussions in the Nigerian Pharma are tilting towards advancing the local manufacturing sector. What would you say PMG-MAN has contributed in this regard?
Our mission as a group has always been centered on advocacy, particularly in advancing local pharmaceutical manufacturing. We conceptualized the idea of “Medicine Security,” which became a buzzword post-COVID-19. This concept emphasizes the need to prioritize local pharma manufacturing across the entire value chain, from active ingredients to finished formulations and supply chain optimisation. We believe that without significant local input in this ecosystem, access to safe, quality, and affordable medicines, as well as the attainment of universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goal 3, will remain elusive. Over the past 40 years, it will be right to state that the group has tirelessly advocated for a strengthened medicine security system, urging policymakers at both national and regional levels to mainstream local pharma manufacturing. Today, our members are upgrading their facilities to meet global standards, with a member company achieving WHO product prequalification and certification. Swiss Pharm (NIG) a member company between last year and this year got two of their products WHO prequalified – that is a huge milestone as they are the first to do that in some cases in Africa and more companies are in this journey, trusting that it will make a business case in future.
We are yet to start feeling the impact of the Executive Order on pharmaceuticals signed by the Tinubu administration. This is because Nigerians are still grappling with out of pocket expenses on medicines. Do you still believe that this Executive Order will yield any dividends?
The implementation framework of the Presidential Executive Order (PEO), which is aimed at increasing local production of healthcare products and reducing costs, we got to know, is currently being finalized – work in progress. This executive trade and investment policy instrument pronounced by the President, an Initiative led by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, and Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, was born out of extensive consultations with the industry. The behind-the-scenes work is being coordinated by the Presidential Initiative on Unlocking the Value Chain in Healthcare (PVAC), led by Dr Abdu Mukhtar.
As an Alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School Executive program on Leading Smart Policy Design, I was taught that the success of a policy is 10% design and 90% implementation. The challenge has always been implementation. The last administration of President Muhammed Buhari GCFR, introduced many policies with a view to stimulate local pharmaceutical production post-COVID-19. Their effectiveness has often been hindered by challenges in implementation by the government institutions charged with the responsibility. You and I are aware of the following extant trade and regulatory policies of the last administration: The VAT Modification Order 2021, which exempts VAT payment for pharma raw materials’ input, the supplementary Fiscal Measure (SFM) of Charter 99 that emphasizes on duty-free for machineries for manufacturing, the Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC) waiver on tariff and duty for machineries and other key inputs for industrialization purpose. The question is: with all these policies, how did we fare with implementation? You know the answer. For us in the PMGMAN, PEO is about the political will to tweak these policies to avoid the many bottlenecks that makes them not to work; get it to be a seamless process, automated real-time. Get the systems automated with minimal human interface. I do not need to be visiting Nigeria Customs Office HQ, or commands, every now and then to solve disputes on a policy directive that is not ambiguous to interpret- unfortunately, that has always been the case, where HS Codes are misinterpreted to drive revenue. It messes the whole production cycle up and adds to the high cost of production, which ultimately will be paid by the patient whom today, still makes huge out of pocket expenses to access medicine. We hope that the current administration will prioritize seamless and automated implementation to avoid bottlenecks, reduce production costs, and ultimately benefit patients who currently face high out-of-pocket expenses for medicines.
Any word for pharmaceutical companies with regards to the forthcoming expo? Is PMG-MAN getting the support it requires from them?
This Expo is an event that every bona fide PMGMAN member company should proudly support. It offers a platform to demonstrate our capacity to fill the gap created by the exit of multinational. Companies looking to upgrade their facilities and scale up production will find this Expo invaluable.
Beyond PMGMAN members, traders interested in contract manufacturing or exploring backward integration opportunities will also benefit from this event. For those targeting regional market access, this Expo is an ideal platform, as it will feature CEOs of National Regulatory Authorities from West and Central Africa, as well as opinion leaders in development, who will share insights on regional manufacturing and funding opportunities. Diplomats and high commissioners will also be in attendance.
This comprehensive event is designed to unlock the value chain in pharmaceutical manufacturing across Nigeria, Central, and West Africa. Participation is free, and we encourage everyone to register for their access badge and QR code at www.pmgman.com or www.NigeriaPharmaExpo.com. #NPME2024. The event will take place at the Balmoral Convention Center, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
The Chairman Mr Oluwatosin Jolayemi Esq, along with the entire PMGMAN Management and membership, looks forward to welcoming all visitors, buyers, exhibitors, policymakers, and development partners to the Expo.
