ABUJA- Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) today in Abuja challenged pharmacists to step up efforts towards the country’s efforts in meeting its drug needs.

Gowon gave the challenge at the 81st annual conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

He said it was unfortunate that after more than 40 years of independence, the country was almost completely relying on imported drugs for its health care delivery.

He, therefore, urged governments to step up efforts aimed at encouraging local production of drugs.

He also called for closer collaboration among various stakeholders in the health sector to ensure that Nigeria , in no distant time, became self-reliant on health care delivery.

He also called for strategic partnership between the PSN and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to ensure that the country’s universities produced high quality pharmacy graduates.

Gowon solicited support for NAFDAC, saying that with stakeholders’ support the war against fake drugs in the country would be won.

In a message, NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Dora Akunyili, canvassed the support of pharmacists to ensure the use of appropriate ingredients in drug production.

Akunyili said: “There is no way the country’s drug and medical sub-sector can be correctly regulated without the support of pharmacists.”