Healthcare Equipment and Allied Products Providers of Nigeria (HEPAN) are calling on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to reduce the costs associated with obtaining Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificates for medical devices.
This plea comes as HEPAN applauds President Bola Tinubu’s recent executive order aimed at boosting local production of healthcare products. Signed in June, the order eliminates tariffs, excise duties, and Value Added Tax on certain machinery and raw materials. This initiative is part of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, approved in October 2023, designed to lower production costs and enhance local manufacturing competitiveness.
Dr. Ifeanyi Nwankwo, HEPAN’s National President, praised the order for its potential to reduce medical service costs and create jobs amidst Nigeria’s high inflation rates. Mustapha Falaki, HEPAN’s Board Chairman, emphasized the importance of industry-wide support for the policy’s successful implementation.
