The Federal Government has issued a directive mandating all Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals to procure needles and syringes only from locally approved manufacturers.
The directive, outlined in a circular signed by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, aims to address the challenges faced by local pharmaceutical industries due to the influx of substandard imported medical supplies.
“Mr. President has directed that this must stop,” stated Dr. Alausa, emphasizing the government’s commitment to supporting local manufacturers and curbing the importation of foreign-made medical supplies.
The circular, dated 28th March 2024, highlighted the need to halt the issuance of licenses for the importation of foreign-manufactured needles and syringes by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. It also instructed the delisting of companies involved in such imports.
“Out of the nine local pharmaceutical companies that produced needles and syringes eight years ago, six have folded up due to the dumping of largely substandard goods into the market,” the circular disclosed.
The directive further specified approved local manufacturers, including EL-Salmat Pharmaceuticals Company Ltd (brand name: Salmaject), HMA Medical Ltd (brand name: Deleject), and Afrimedical Manufacturing & Supplies Ltd.
To facilitate the procurement process, the circular listed distributors of these companies in various states of the Federation.
