Nigeria opts for in-house drugs

Nigeria has approved a NGN7 billion (£40 million) package to buy life-saving drugs from local suppliers.

President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua said only manufacturers in Nigeria had been awarded the contracts to supply drugs for HIV/Aids and malaria for example, reported This Day.

He was speaking at the 81st Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria in Abuja.

It was no longer acceptable for countries to import drugs, former head of state and chairman General Yakubu Gowon added.

President Yar'Adua said: ''l wish to stress here that before the economy of any nation can enjoy a major boost, the health of the citizenry must be ensured and enhanced."

He called for pharmaceutical companies to share their knowledge of healthcare to ensure only "safe, potent and affordable" medicines are given to patients.

In July a $25 million tuberculosis and HIV monitoring programme started across Nigeria.

In 2006 Nigeria declared the tuberculosis situation a national emergency.

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