By CHIOMA OBINNA

KEY PLAYERS in the healthcare sector; notably hygiene and healthcare, have harped on the  need for Nigeria to take a cue for accelerated development of medicines that is relevant to Nigerians and Africans as a whole.

Noting this at the Reckitt Benckiser, National Agency for Food and Drugs Agency and Control, NAFDAC and the University of Ibadan International conference tagged; “Medicine Regulation of Claims” under the auspices of the Centre for Drug Discovery, Development and Production (CDDDP), the experts tasked the NAFDAC to reduce complexities in  product requirements to enable the Nigerian consumer access the cheapest possible solutions to their various product needs.

The regulatory body must also correct the incidence of parallel import especially in the area of importing goods that are already listed and registered in Nigeria.

The two – day conference was to promote faster development of safe, efficacious and cost-effective medicines to consumers in Africa as well as foster collaboration among players in the health sector.

It was advocated that  establishment of partnerships that would promote better hygiene and health by ensuring that messages disseminated by healthcare industries are true and not falsified.

In his keynote address, the Director -General, NAFDAC, Dr, Paul Orhii, expressed optimism that the conference would foster greater collaboration and partnership among the stakeholders in the overall best interest of consumers of medicines in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

Orhii who challenged other companies to emulate the core values and commitment of Reckitt Benckiser towards the development of medicine in Africa, emphasised the need for standardising herbal therapy in the country given the pharmacological effect of various herbal products available to consumers.

Managing Director of Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Ltd, Mr Rahul Murgai; emphasised the  need for all interested parties to work together to ensure faster access to quality household and medicinal products in order for consumers to live healthier lives and happy homes.