Fidson Healthcare to open N9billion Drug Manufacturing Factory

Fidson Healthcare Plc is set to launch its newly completed World Health Organisation, WHO-standard manufacturing factory, as it charges the government to prioritise domestic manufacturing of drugs in the country.

The new plant, which is situated at Ota, Ogun State, is one of the few that had been shortlisted for WHO certification in Nigeria.

The new plant is equipped to produce six distinct product lines-tablets, capsules, oral liquids, creams and ointments, dry powder and intravenous infusions to meet Nigeria and regional medicine needs.

Fidson Healthcare Plc Director, Mr Abiola Adebayo, who led the tour of some newsmen, said the factory had gulped N9 billion, with the funding generated through debts and internally generated revenue.

He said the plant was completed about eight months ago, but it could not start operations immediately because of issues of foreign exchange (forex), which has impeded raw materials sourcing.

Adebayo urged the government to treat medicine as part of national security by implementing policies that will encourage the growth and sustainable development of Nigerian domestic pharmaceutical industry.