Health minister lauds Fidson’s new factory

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Health minister lauds Fidson’s new factory

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has commended Fidson Healthcare Plc for its newly constructed multi-billion naira factory.

He also reaffirmed Federal Government’s support for local drug manufacture, saying with the new facility, Fidson deserves the support and patronage of government and other stakeholders.

Adewole expressed satisfaction with the factory’s production capacity and promised government’s support.

“What Fidson has built here is extraordinary. We must encourage and support this project in terms of patronage and tax relief in order to ensure that the company is able to coordinate production in a sustainable manner,” Adewole said.

He said that part of the support would be in the area of importation of raw materials.

He promised to involve the Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority, so that the company could gain better access to raw materials.

He also promised that the government would do a review of the policy on tariff on imported raw materials, particularly as it affects local manufacturing of drugs.

“We have discussed with the Minister of Trade and Investment asking for a reversal of the policy on the high tariff on imported raw materials. The visit to this new factory is a reminder in that regard,” Adewole said.

Fidson’s new factory is one of the five facilities shortlisted for World Health Organisation certification in Nigeria.

It is an ultra-modern facility with high-tech machinery for manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, in compliance with global standards and WHO certification.

In response, the Managing Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, expressed optimism that with government support, the new plant would not only boost local drug manufacturing capacity, it would also transform the country’s pharmaceutical industry and the economy at large.

He said that with the completion of the plant, Nigerian pharmaceutical industry stands a chance of being launched into global reckoning.