President Muhammadu Buhari has announced that the Federal Government has made N100 billion available as loans to indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare investors in order to increase their capital base and enhance local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and medical consumables.
He made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja, when meeting the Nigerian Medical Association’s new executive members (NMA).
He stated that the loan was made possible by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s assistance to the private pharmaceutical sector.
Speaking on brain drain in the health sector, Buhari stated that he has asked the Minister of Health to look into ways to turn “brain outflow” into “brain gain” by involving top Nigerian medical experts in the diaspora in knowledge and skill repatriation.
He congratulated Osahon Enabulele, the World Medical Association’s president-elect and the first Nigerian to hold the position, and expressed optimism that Enabulele would utilize his position to assist improvements in health care delivery in Nigeria and lower-income nations.
NMA President Uche Rowland Ojinmah urged Buhari to ensure the full and proper implementation of the National Health Insurance Authority Act, as well as the provision of “adequate work equipment, a conducive work environment, and the necessary budget support,” as well as the extension of the retirement age for medical consultants to 70 years and 65 years for non-consultant doctors and other healthcare workers.