By Ndidi Chukwu
To compliment on the effort that saw the Certification of some Nigerian Pharmaceutical companies by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control, (NAFDAC) has said its focus is to make Nigeria a clinical Trial Hub. Director General, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, said the move to boost clinical trials in Nigeria is due to increased globalisation which has made it necessary to “strengthen” Nigeria’s capacity.
Orhii said the Agency targets other aspects to improve its services in Nigeria including capacity building, workshops and upgrade. His comments came at the Agency’s inauguration of the Nigerian clinical Trial Technical Working Group, saddled with many responsibilities amongst which is to review all current and past efforts at transforming the Nigerian clinical research sector and synchronise the efforts into one.
“I want all clinical trial to be seen as a social good that it is. First is to get the public to think about participating in clinical research. That way participants would not be looked at as scape goats, but rather seen as contributing to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. By this, the agency is advocating consideration of participation rather than encourage participation” Orhii to the newly inaugurated TWG.
The TWG was also asked to review all issues impeding the growth of clinical research sector in Nigeria and make recommendations to the Director General, NAFDAC and also create clinical trial awareness to both the lay and medical communities in Nigeria on issues dwelling on the research of medicines, old and new.
In her response the Chairman of the TWG, Professor Ifeoma Okoye, the creation of the Nigerian Clinical Trial working Group has been a dynamic process since the last ten years. She said “the formation of the Group is the boldest step towards harnessing all past efforts and streamlining all the different moving parts in accomplishing Clinical Trial Industry for Nigeria”
