President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Pharmacist Ahmed Yakasai said cost of medicines in the country has skyrocket due to the FOREX crisis in the economy.
He stated this yesterday when he led a delegation on a visit to the headquarters of Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust and other titles in Abuja.
The PSN president called on the federal government to address lack of FOREX saying it has affected production, distribution and acquisition of pharmaceutical raw materials in the country.
He added that lack of FOREX has caused rise in cost as well as shortage of medicines, "after food is drug. But when dollar is N480 I cannot see how drugs will be affordable without FOREX. We have to give priorities to this area."
The PSN president also called on government at all levels to patronize locally made medicines and products in the country and also fund research and development.
Yakasai said there are over 950,000 illegal medicine stores scattered all over Nigeria saying new guidelines to control the chaotic drug distribution will be part of discussions at the 89th annual general meeting and scientific conference of the society slated for 7th to 12th November in Minna, Niger state.
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