The federal government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to stop issuing licences for the importation of needles and syringes.
The circular also directed all chief medical directors (CMDs) and medical directors (MDs) of tertiary hospitals to procure needles and syringes solely from approved local manufacturers.
A tertiary hospital refers to a university hospital or a specialist centre.
The new directive was issued on Friday and signed by Tunji Alausa, minister of state for health.
The minister said the directive is aimed at boosting local production and shielding the country’s manufacturing sector from the influx of foreign goods.
Alausa said local pharmaceutical companies that produced needles and syringes became endangered because of importation.
He said of the nine local pharmaceutical companies that produced needles and syringes eight years ago, six have packed up due to the dumping of largely substandard goods on the market.
“Pursuant to this, NAFDAC has been mandated to stop issuing licences for the importation of foreign manufactured needles and syringes.
“It is also to de-list companies involved in the importation of these products going forward.
“All our tertiary hospitals are hereby directed to procure needles and syringes for their hospital needs from only the NAFDAC-approved local manufacturers listed below, either directly or through any of their vendors.
“EL-Salmat Pharmaceuticals Company Ltd Block, Brand Name: Salmaject, HMA Medical Ltd., with Brand Name: Deleject and Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Ltd.”
He also listed some of the distributors across the states for easy access.