Health commissioners advocate for affordable medication and improved access to emergency care
Health commissioners advocate for affordable medication and improved access to emergency care
The Nigerian Health Commissioners Forum has called on more states to set up drug management agencies to help lower drug prices nationwide. This appeal was made in a communique issued after the forum’s second quarterly meeting in Lagos, signed by NHCF Chairman Dr. Oyebanji Filani and Secretary Dr. Amina El-Imam. The commissioners emphasized that such agencies would enable states to create a shared pool of procured medicines, which can then be distributed to wholesalers and retailers at reduced costs. The communique stated, “This approach allows states to benefit from pooled procurement of commodities, ensuring timely access to high-quality, affordable drugs and supplies, while also achieving economies of scale.”
Furthermore, the commissioners expressed concern over the conditions for states to get on board the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System and the slow pace of onboarding.
The commissioners resolved to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee to expedite approvals for states.
They acknowledged the benefits of the scheme, including increasing access to emergency medical treatment for more Nigerians.
The commissioners added that the forum resolved to continue engaging with NEMSAS, private health facilities and other stakeholders to expedite the full operationalisation of the programme.
The commissioners lauded the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention leadership for the completion of the Joint External Evaluation in 13 states, urging that the centre should make efforts to evaluate all other states.
The NHCF also harped on the need to “ensure that states establish an emergency fund that is not mopped up at the end of every fiscal year,” the communique read.
The forum recognised the need for states to be able to prevent, detect, and respond to all outbreaks.
It called on states to constantly report to the NCDC whenever an outbreak occurs.
The NHCF stressed the need for all health facilities to cooperate with state ministries of health, regardless of their ownership, to improve surveillance and response.
This is as it urged that local government areas must have public health emergency operations centres apart from state isolation centres.
The health commissioners commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its efforts in revitalizing primary health care through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, as well as the Immunisation Plus and Malaria Programme.
According to the communique, the commissioners reviewed data from a nationwide health initiative called ‘Project Ten Million,’ led by the NHCF late last year, which involved screening millions of adults across Nigeria for hypertension and diabetes.
They proposed strategies to leverage this data to bolster Nigeria’s response to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including enhancing NCD surveillance and fostering multisectoral collaboration.
The commissioners also acknowledged significant progress in service delivery, such as increased coverage of IPTP3 for pregnant women, a rise in births attended by skilled health workers, and improved treatment of new diarrhoea cases.
Additionally, they reaffirmed their support for Nigeria’s plan to host the 5th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in 2026, recognizing its role in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in collaboration with stakeholders.
The health commissioners reiterated their dedication to advancing health outcomes for all Nigerians.
