Lagos, June 22, 2016 – The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Wednesday inaugurated Medical, Pharmaceutical and Allied Service Sectoral Group to advance investment in the nation’s health sector.
The President of the chamber, Mrs Nike Akande, said the group would play a strategic role in the promotion of value creation and employment generation in the health sector.
Akande said, “The health services sector is very critical for the development of our human capital. A nation can only be as healthy as its people.
“The private sector has been playing an increasing role in this sector.
“There are many private sector investments in hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, drug production and medical diagnostic,’’ she said.
Akande urged the group to leverage on the platform to create a vibrant health sector through engagement with relevant authorities on issues relating to the development of education and allied activities.
“Your voice should be loud enough to influence policy, regulation and legal frameworks for a conducive investment environment for the sector,’’ she said.
The Chairman of the group, Dr Stella Okoli, said that the group which comprised practitioners, who were vast in health businesses, were better positioned to advise government on policy directions.
Okoli, the Chief Executive Officer, Emzor Pharmaceutical Plc, said that the task before the group was to boost local sufficiency in drug production, improve infrastructure in health facilities and universal health coverage.
The Director, Drug Evaluation and Research in NAFDAC, Mrs Titilope Owolabi, said that the group was apt, considering the need to deepen investment in the nation’s health sector.
