The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has lauded President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Order granting special waivers on pharmaceutical inputs, APIs, excipients, and other essential raw materials.
The Director General, NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye in a statement she signed on Saturday noted that the Order which would exempt specified pharmaceutical machinery, equipment, goods, and accessories from tariffs and excise duties, would “set the stage for a sustainable and high-quality healthcare system for all Nigerians.”
She said the initiative, as a part of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, “addresses longstanding challenges and aims to improve health outcomes for Nigerians.”
The NAFDAC boss added that the President’s Order would transform Nigeria’s healthcare sector by increasing local production of healthcare products, reducing costs of healthcare equipment and consumables, and promoting local investments.
The EO, as published by the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, has the following provisions:
Zero Tariffs and Excise Duties: Exempting specified pharmaceutical machinery, equipment, goods, and accessories from tariffs and excise duties to reduce production costs and make healthcare products more affordable.
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Special Waivers on Pharmaceutical Inputs: APIs, excipients, and other essential raw materials, including those for Long-lasting Insecticidal Nets and Rapid Diagnostic Kits, will benefit from zero tariffs, excise duties, and VAT, lowering the price of essential medicines and medical supplies.
Market Shaping: Establishing framework contracts and volume guarantees to stabilize the local manufacturing market.
Regulatory Harmonization and Expedited Approvals: Developing a Harmonized Implementation Framework to guide regulatory agencies in streamlining approval processes.
Implementation and Compliance: Agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service, NAFDAC, SON, and FIRS are mandated to ensure swift implementation. The waivers and exemptions are valid for two years from the effective date.
Also, the Order, it was noted, would address key issues, including:
Reducing the High Cost of Medicines: By lowering tariffs and providing special waivers, the EO aims to reduce the prohibitive costs of medicines and other pharmaceutical products, making healthcare more affordable for Nigerians.
Boosting Local Industry: Encouraging local manufacturing will create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and reduce dependence on imports, ensuring a reliable supply of essential healthcare products.
Enhancing Quality and Innovation: Regulatory harmonization and market shaping will drive innovation and quality improvement in the local healthcare industry.
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