Pharma West Africa Conference To Focus on Medicines Supply In Nigeria

A conference designed to help boost the availability of quality medicines in Nigeria will take place in Lagos in March.

The free-to-attend Pharma West Africa Conference is set to highlight the opportunities as well as challenges that face the pharmaceutical industry and medicines supply chain in the region.

The event is part of a major new international trade exhibition for pharmaceutical professionals which runs from March 20th-22nd at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Chaired by a former president of the Nigerian Pharmaceutical Society, Pharm Ahmed Yakasai, the Conference will look at the drive towards universal health coverage and the role that medication and medicines suppliers have in that.

The Conference is accredited for professional learning, so pharmacists and other professionals will be able to earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points by attending.

Topics for discussion include strategic partnerships and the use of better technology to grow the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria, the role of brands, regulatory aspects and how to boost the availability of quality medicines.

The third day of the Conference, hosted by the Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association of Nigeria (PWDAN) will include medicines supply opportunities.

Pharma West Africa is the largest event in the region dedicated to pharmaceuticals, with over 150 exhibitors representing thousands of medicines brands and more than 2,500 pharmaceutical professionals expected.

Between 25 per cent to 35 per cent of exhibitors will be Nigerian companies and it is known that international businesses will be looking to discuss joint ventures, such as contract manufacturing, with local businesses.

In addition to the participation of manufacturers, importers, and distributors, a key feature of the Conference will be presentations by aides from the health and medicines regulatory agencies of Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.

Mr Yakasai, who is also the founder and Managing Director of Pharmaplus Nigeria Ltd, said: “The conference offers a platform for opportunities and knowledge-sharing, with access to experts. There will be regulatory updates from all the ECOWAS countries which can enhance professional involvement and, indeed, ease of doing business. It will foster collaboration amongst all the pharma industry leadership.”

The exhibition and conference are being put on by BtoB Events, which is also responsible for three other highly successful trade events in Nigeria: Beauty West Africa, Food & Beverage West Africa, and WAAS, the West African Automotive Show. These have already become the largest trade exhibitions in Africa in their respective industries.
Pharma West Africa will similarly offer pharmacy and pharmaceutical professionals many benefits, said Mr Yakasai. “The extensive range of international businesses will provide insight into cutting edge technologies, new products and advancement in the pharmaceutical industry, along with networking opportunities.