Abuja: The Federal Government is advancing its commitment to ensure a self-sustaining healthcare system by collaborating with pharmaceutical giant, GSK, to bolster local drug production in Nigeria. The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, revealed this on his official X account on Wednesday, stating that the collaboration is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Initiative toward unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC).
According to Voice of Nigeria, the initiative aims to transform Nigeria into a hub for high-quality health product manufacturing and reduce dependency on the importation of medical supplies. In a recent discussion with GSK, the minister highlighted the government’s focus on local production of essential pharmaceutical products. He emphasized that GSK’s commitment to investing in Nigeria’s health sector through localised production marks a significant step toward achieving the country’s health security objectives.
The partnership aligns with the Nigeria Healt
h Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), a key component of building a robust healthcare system that meets the needs of Nigeria’s growing population. Through the PVAC framework, Nigeria aims to reduce reliance on imports, enhance economic resilience, and boost job creation in the health sector. By fostering such collaborations, the government is working to make high-quality healthcare accessible to all Nigerians, in alignment with the bold vision set forth by President Tinubu under PVAC.
Prof. Pate explained that the GSK partnership is not solely about meeting Nigeria’s internal needs but also about positioning Nigeria as a leader in the African healthcare industry. Local production would enable Nigeria to tap into regional markets, potentially serving as a supplier of essential medications across Africa. He quoted Mr Kunle Oyelana, GSK’s Vice President and Head of General Medicines for Europe, who noted GSK’s dedication to shared goals, including developing a localized production facility to meet th
e demand for essential medicines across Nigeria and beyond.
The minister also acknowledged Dr Abdu Mukhtar, PVAC’s Coordinator, for his leadership in executing President Tinubu’s mandate, expressing confidence that their joint efforts would soon yield a stronger, healthier, and more prosperous Nigeria. GSK combines science, technology, and talent to advance disease prevention and treatment, specializing in vaccines, specialities, and general medicines, with a focus on infectious diseases, HIV, respiratory/immunology, and oncology.