The two-day International conference organized by the Centre for Drug Discovery, Development and Production (CDDDP) brought together major stakeholders in the health and legal sector with the focus on improving access to medicines. The conference theme was: Improving Access to Quality Medicines through Appropriate Legislation and Policies. The conference had in attendance, policy makers from the Federal and State Ministries of Health, the African Union(AU)/New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the Ministry of Justice Oyo State, and policy implementation regulatory agencies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Pharmacists’ council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), as well as other stake holders in the Nigerian healthcare delivery system.
The conference which was held at the University of Ibadan (UI) Conference Centre, Ibadan, Nigeria on 29th and 30th August, 2017 was chaired by the Minister of Health, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. I.F. Adewole with the key note address given by the Ag. Director General, NAFDAC Mrs. Yetunde Oni. The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of the Vice Chancellor, UI, Professor Abel Olayinka who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor; Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnership, Prof Olanike K.Adeyemo. Other dignitaries at the Opening ceremony include, the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), ProfTemitopeAlonge, The Registrar, Pharmacist Council of Nigeria, Pharm. Elijah Mohammed, the Oyo State Commissioner forHealth Dr. Azeez P. Adeduntan who was represented by the Director of Pharmaceutical Services Oyo State Pharm B. L. Akinwande, the Representative of the Honorable Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State – MrsFolabimpeSegun-Olakojo, Chairman Board of Fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria – Pharm ChieduMordi, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, UCH –Pharm. Helen Oduntan, the Chief of Party, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Nigeria, the Director University of Ibadan Research Management Office – Prof OdunolaOyeronke and the University MacArthur Grant Liaison officer – Prof R. A. Oderinde.
The UI Vice Chancellor in his welcome address appreciated McArthur Foundation for establishing the center at the University of Ibadan and highlighted the success achieved by the Centre in its Post-graduate training programs. He also Appreciated NEPAD for selecting CDDDP as a Regional Center of Regulatory Excellence through its African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization Programme. Overall he was gladdened by the choice of the theme of the conference towards providing access to quality medicines for Nigerians as this is key to building a wealthy nation.
The Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, UI, Prof. OluwatoyinA. Odeku applauded the efforts of Professor Chinedum P. Babalola the Principal Investigator (PI), the Co-PI, Professor O. A. Itiola and the organizing committee members for working tirelessly to ensure the success of this conference. She welcomed everyone to the conference and assured all participants that the conference will provide opportunity for rubbing minds to yield positive results.
In His opening remarks, the Minister of Health reiterated his commitment to the service of the Nation and to his Alma Mata, the University of Ibadan. He applauded the Centre for its commitment towards improving access to quality medicines and for choosing such a theme at this particular time. He reminded participants that the Federal ministry of health makes the policies while the agencies of government implement these policies. He stated the commitment of the government to encourage local manufacturing of essential medicines. Recently medicines used for relief in the North East and also during the relief support to Sierra Leone and Cameroon were manufactured in Nigeria. The minister also asked for more interactions with the private sector in the area of Public Private Partnerships in building a robust health sector.
The Director of CDDDP, Professor Chinedum P. Babalola emphasized the need to organize this International Conference at this particular period. Essential medicines save lives and improve health when they are available, affordable, of assured quality and properly used. Still, lack of access to essential medicines remains one of the most serious global public health problems. According to her, one of the mandates for setting up the centre is to ensure the availability of safe and affordable quality medicines for the African populace. The centre had identified a key component to access to quality medicines to include policy and legislation alongside the implementation of these legislations.
Awards of recognition were presented to some individuals for their meritorious contributions to the improvement of the healthcare in Nigeria and the West African sub region. The awardees included the Prof. I. F. Adewole, Minister for Health, Pharm. Ahmed Yakassai, President of PSN, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, wife of the Executive Governor of Oyo state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Former Executive Governor Ondo state, Mr. GbadegesinYemi Hezekiah Director-General Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology, Pharmacist Elijah Mohammed, the Registrar PCN, the Speaker Oyo state House of Assembly, Honourable Michael Adeyemo and Engineer AderemiOlaniyan.
Delivering the keynote address, the Director General of NAFDAC reiterated the need for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that the various challenges to access to quality medicines are identified and addressed. She identified access to quality medicines as a key element in the healthcare arsenal and also recognized several global and regional initiatives towards improving access to quality medicines in a sustainable manner. Among others, the World Health Organization (WHO) through its pre-qualification programme and its collaborative registration procedure remains one of the foremost global initiative to support and ensure access to quality medicines whilst providing opportunities to build regulatory capacities within different countries. This initiative provides for collaboration and engagement with the potential to fast-track access to quality and sometimes life-saving medicines.
