Access Bank Plc s set to release loans through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) credit support scheme to ramp up the capacity of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.
The loan scheme is part of a six-point palliative by the Central Bank of Nigeria, of which Access Bank is a participating financial institute (PFI).
The Bank is reaffirming a long-held and proven stance on fostering sustainable development across the country.
This has become necessary as the country continues to tackle the evolving crisis of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The palliative scheme was developed to provide funding to indigenous pharmaceutical companies and other organizations in the healthcare value chain, enabling them to increase capacity to meet the increasing demand for healthcare arising from the pandemic.
Nigeria’s healthcare product manufacturers, including pharmaceutical drugs and medical equipment; healthcare service providers/medical facilities – hospitals/clinics, diagnostic centres, laboratories, fitness and wellness centres, rehabilitation centres, dialysis centres, blood banks, et cetera, are eligible to access loans to enhance local drug manufacturing, increased bed count in hospitals across the country, funding of intensive care units as well as training, laboratory testing, equipment, and Research & Development.
The loan’s Interest rate is set at a maximum of 5.0% per annum (all-inclusive) up to 28th February 2021, making it more accessible to a larger percentage of the sector. Thereafter (from 1st March 2021), interest on the facility shall revert to 9% per annum (all-inclusive
