HEALTH: FG TO PROCURE ESSENTIAL DRUGS FOR NIGERIANS
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According to the federal government, it is attempting to acquire necessary medications in order to offset the growing expenses of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.
This was revealed by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, on Thursday in Abuja at the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day celebration.
In order to save lives, lessen financial and physical suffering, and promote health for all Nigerians, Pate stated that the three-year Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain was introduced a year ago.
“In the medium and long term, the local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products and commodities will help reduce costs and ensure availability within the country. This contributes to UHC’s goal of reducing the financial burden of health services,” he stated.
According to the minister, the government is taking intentional and well-thought-out actions that will improve Nigeria’s economy and lessen financial and physical suffering. These actions are in line with the UHC’s objective of lowering out-of-pocket medical expenses and healthcare-related poverty.
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Prof. Pate claimed that 2 million more people had been joined to the health insurance pool, increasing the total number of insured lives to 8 million.
“Our administration has increased the number of lives enrolled in Health Insurance by 14% as of Q3 of 2024.
“This is a modest yet significant addition of 2 million persons to the pool in less than a year. It brings the total to 8 million insured lives. Since the scheme was launched in 2005, if we had 2 million lives enrolled every year, we would have had about 40 million Nigerians with health insurance coverage today,” Pate said.
The minister said that a whopping amount of ₦45.9bn has been disbursed through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, to assist indigent and vulnerable Nigerians access medical care without paying for it at the time and point of need.
“The equity funds by State Governments support care for its indigenes who are most in need. These funds complement the social sector interventions targeting these groups,” Pate added.
He also revealed Governments plan to purchase health for target groups whose insurance premiums are high.
“As of October 2024, we had successfully undertaken 879 obstetric fistula repairs across 19 centres in the country with a target of 2,500 before the year ends. This has restored the quality of lives of our women and their dignity,” he concluded.
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