Pharmacy shop stocked with essential medicines
The Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) has called for government’s support especially in eliminating multiple taxations on its members.
The association pointed out that the issue of multiple taxations, which has been identified as bane of most Patent Medicine Vendors (PMV) and other startups in Nigeria, is a threat to the economic growth of the nation as it encourages citizens to evade tax.
Speaking at a sensitization seminar held by the Lagos State Chapter, NAPPMED, recently in Lagos, the Chairman of the occasion, Igwe J.O Ngene, noted that the role of the PMV in healthcare delivery and the growth of the economy at large cannot be neglected and should not be jeopardised.
He maintained that government agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) should also endeavor to carry out their regular functions with utmost professionalism.
He said: “If the government and its agencies do this, NAPPMED will find a more conducive environment to carry out her businesses of distribution and sales of products more effectively to bring greater productivity in this sector of the economy which will help growth the country’s GPD.”
The National President, NAPPMED, Joel Odoh, urged the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) to revisit their standing rules regarding the prohibition and exclusion of certain products from the list of drugs not to be sold by NAPPMED, as the exclusion of some of the products stifle the growth of SMEs, which is the hub of the economy.
The President, Lagos State Chapter, NAPPMED, Celestine Kaji, maintained that the PCN address the cumbersome process of obtaining the PMV license. He reiterated that over 45 per cent of applications lying before the PCN are left almost unattended to.He urged the PCN to liaise more with NAPPMED before issuing licenses rather than unilaterally dishing out regulations for NAPPMED without prior consultation, noting that this practice will strangulate the growth and development of business of PMV and rob the volatile Nigerian economy off its much deserved growth in that sector.
Kaji noted that one of the essence of the sensitization was to share the dream of the association with their development partners which are the pharmaceutical companies.He said, “The pharmaceutical companies, especially those who turned up for this event, should not merely focus on selling their products but should also strive to ensure capacity development of the PMV.”
Source: G Business
