BY VICTORIA OJEME

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has commenced technical audit of seven Nigerian pharmaceutical companies, as pre-condition for eligibility for the WHO contracts.

Foreign pharmaceutical companies obtain huge sums annually for W.HO funded medical supplies to Nigeria, owing to perceived short-coming in the nation’s pharmaceutical industry.

Director General, National Agency for the Control of Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, noted in Abuja that, the teamis auditing equipment and facilities of the companies to ascertain if they meet world standards.

’’The team will also look into manufacturing practices in order to know those things we are doing right and those that are wrong, so that at the end of the day they will be able to give suggestions,’’ he stated.

Orhii said the objective of the auditing exercise is to ensure quality and drug sufficiency for the country.

In his remark, a member of the team, Dr. Onyenoha Chukwumerije, said the team would not only audit the companies, but would also offer training and advice on best international practices.

’Nigeria is an important country when it comes to manufacturing of drugs, because other countries in the West African sub-region get their drug supplies from her. It is therefore important that Nigeria should be self sufficient in drug manufacturing in order to be able to export quality drugs to other African countries,’’ he said.

Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi  Chukwu, assured the team of the government’s commitment to the audit exercise.

’’We assure the team that we will work very hard to ensure that the gaps identified that requires our attention is filled after the exercise,’’ he said.