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Chapter 5 of AHOP's Nigeria Health Systems and Services Profile.
Key messages
- National policies and guidelines on medical product regulation and distribution exist but are poorly implemented and audited. Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control plays a critical role in regulation, market authorization and supply. More stringent policy implementation, tighter policy evaluation structures and the stipulation of sanctions are needed to support supply-side regulation.
- Nigeria has about 150 local pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, but they meet only 30% of the country’s needs. This limited national capacity to produce medical products has resulted in over-reliance on imported pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. Foreign direct investment in the pharmaceutical sector, the provision of critical manufacturing infrastructure and tax incentives for local producers could improve domestic production capacity.
- Policies and guidelines exist to strengthen supply chain management. However, the lack of a systematic, well-regulated drug distribution system results in the deterioration of drugs during storage, stock shortages and the circulation of fake products. If effectively implemented, the National Drug Distribution Guidelines could improve supply and distribution nationwide.
- Despite policy intervention efforts, overprescription of branded medicines remains prevalent. Loss of patient and prescriber confidence in generic medicines and the absence of a national prescription policy and sufficient drug use training remain obstacles.
- Poor availability of medical technologies for diagnosis and limited capacity to maintain existing health technologies affect quality of care.
- The majority of Nigerians in rural and semi-urban areas receive health care from traditional medical practitioners. Standardization and formal integration of traditional medicine into the health system is under way but incomplete.