[afro-nets] Nigeria's pharmaceutical sector X-rayed

[A Odutola <chpss_abo@yahoo.com>>]

Nigeria's pharmaceutical sector X-rayed
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A baseline survey of the pharmaceutical sector in Nigeria con-
ducted in 2002 by the Federal Ministry of Health and the country
office of the World Health Organisation has identified a number
of gaps in the sector. These include lack of cohesion between
the three tiers of Government in drug supply and management;
high tax on essential drugs, especially for priority diseases
like HIV/AIDS; non specified budgetary allocation on drugs; ir-
rational use of drugs among professionals and consumers; absence
of public education on rational use of drugs and inadequate num-
ber of pharmacists to provide pharmaceutical care. Other lapses
include inadequate record keeping, especially at the Primary
Health Care level; inadequate supply of key drugs at public
health facilities; irrational and inappropriate prescribing; and
higher utilization of private sector facilities than the public
sector.

This information was made public by the Minister of Health, Pro-
fessor Eyitayo Lambo at the opening of a stakeholders' dissemi-
nation workshop on the "Report of the Baseline Assessment of the
Nigerian Pharmaceutical Sector" held in Abuja last week.

For full details, visit:
http://www.datelinehealth-africa.net/betav1.0/news/detailnews.asp?news_id=9210


A. Odutola
mailto:chpss_abo@yahoo.com