The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire says his ministry would soon come up with a policy that would mandate all Federal Government-owned health institutions in the country procure and use only syringes and needles manufactured in Nigeria.
Ehanire said this when he appeared before a public hearing jointly organised by the Senate Committee on Health and that of Industry, Trade and Investment.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, had during the session asked Ehanire to come up with a specific policy that would save the local manufacturers of syringes and needles from collapse.
The two Senate panels are jointly probing a petition by the Medical Device Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the producers of syringes and needles.
The association had in its petition, alleged that government at all tiers were not patronising them but were embracing foreign syringes and needles.
But Ehanire told the panel that his ministry would ensure that the Federal Executive Council approve the policy within the next weeks.
