A Push for Affordable Healthcare Amid Economic Challenges
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the wife of the former Biafran President, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, yesterday called on Nigerian pharmacists to embark on local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products to improve healthcare delivery in the country.
Bianca, who equally bemoaned the dwindling national economy and high cost of imported pharmaceutical products, emphasized that it has become imperative for pharmacists to manufacture drugs locally to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians and make healthcare more affordable to the masses.
She made the call while addressing pressmen at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Agbani, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, during the 4th induction ceremony of the 2022/2023 graduands of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, numbering 68.
Empowering Pharmacists to Drive Sustainable Healthcare Solutions
Bianca described the move toward local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products as crucial, especially given the current economic climate. With the exorbitant exchange rate of the naira against the dollar and the rising costs of imported goods, including pharmaceuticals, she argued that local production could significantly ease the burden on Nigerians.
“Going into local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products is very crucial, especially at this time of dwindling economy and high cost of imported goods, including pharmaceutical products. It has become imperative that we go into drug manufacturing locally as a country,” she stated.
She further noted, “It would, in no small measure, ameliorate the hardship that the masses in Nigeria are going through. As you know, the middle class is almost wiped out by the challenging economic situation in the country. Almost everybody is affected, one way or the other.”
Bianca also described academic research as the bedrock of sustainable national development and urged the Federal Government to fund research initiatives to address the myriad challenges facing the country. Her remarks highlighted the critical role of academia in driving innovation and finding practical solutions to pressing issues such as healthcare accessibility and economic instability.
In congratulating the ESUT pharmacy graduands, Bianca expressed hope that the new professionals would contribute meaningfully to the push for local manufacturing. “I can only say a big congratulations to the ESUT pharmacy graduands and urge them to go into local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products to make healthcare more affordable to the masses,” she said.
Broad Impact: Bianca’s call underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between government, academia, and industry to foster self-reliance in healthcare. By investing in local drug manufacturing, Nigeria could reduce its dependency on imports, stabilize prices, and enhance access to essential medicines for its citizens.
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s advocacy for local pharmaceutical manufacturing reflects a growing movement toward self-sufficiency in Nigeria. Coupled with increased funding for academic research, this initiative could transform the nation’s healthcare system and bolster its resilience against economic and health crises.
