The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN has begged the Federal Government to extend the recent import waiver on medical supplies by President Mohammadu Buhari to every essential drug, not just the ones related to COVID-19.
Speaking recently, the President of the PSN, Pharm. Sam Ohuabunwa revealed that extending the waiver to every essential drug is key because there is no established treatment protocol all over the world for the novel coronavirus.
According to him, the fact that some residents are still on lockdown means there is reduced cash to buy drugs, so the government has to step in.
He added that the most vulnerable for COVID-19 infection are the old Nigerians who already have underlying chronic diseases that affordable drugs can help with.
His words, “Nigerians who are on lockdown have reduced disposable income to buy medicines. The government is giving food palliative but no medicine palliative. Removing duties and levies on all essential medicines will be one way to provide a medical palliative for the Nigerian poor.
“Finally, the most vulnerable for COVID-19 infection, the aged population, already have some underlying chronic diseases and are on essential medicines like antidiabetics, antihypertensive, and anticancer medications.”
