Govt urged to restrict the importation of infusions
THE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Atlantic Lifesciences Limited, Dhananjay Tripathi, has called on the government to consider restricting the importation of intravenous infusions into the country.
He said that would support local pharmaceutical companies to outcompete substandard and fake imported infusions.
Regional trade
Mr Tripathi stated that the local pharmaceutical industries had the capacity to produce in excess of the country's annual infusion demand of 25 million units.
Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony to introduce a new range of products to stakeholders, the Atlantic Lifesciences CEO said, “considering the economic challenges facing local pharmaceutical companies, a restriction on the importation of infusions and other medicines that were produced locally would go a long way to ensure employment and job security.”
Mr Tripathi said the government was doing its best to provide support for businesses in the wake of challenges and, therefore, expressed the hope that things would improve, especially with the advent of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) bloc.
He said the production capacity of Atlantic Lifesciences alone exceeded the national demand, for which reason they were considering exporting to the West African sub-region.
The CEO of Atlantic Lifesciences said the vision of the company was to provide global quality drugs locally and at affordable prices to meet the medical needs of Ghanaians and residents across West Africa.
The company, which currently produces infusions, injectable and a wide range of nasal and eye drops, will, from next year, include vaccines and anti-snake serums in its line of production, while doubling staff strength from the current 400 employees to 800.
Mr Tripathi said aside creating employment, the company also made use of local content and was hopeful that the government would consider the appeal to help promote and sustain local businesses and industry.
Background
In April this year, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned Atlantic Lifesciences Limited as the biggest manufacturing unit for intravenous (IV) fluids in West Africa.
The $35 million facility, which was financed by Ghana EXIM Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and the company’s own equity, is located at Lakpleku near Old Ningo in the Ningo-Prampram District in the Greater Accra Region.
It is the 107th factory completed and operational under the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative.
It is a specialised factory with a sterile pharmaceutical plant for infusions, eye drops, vaccines/sera, injections and general anaesthesia drugs.