By Joy Onu
Efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system received a boost on Thursday as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the National Health Insurance Authority moved to deepen collaboration aimed at improving Nigerians’ access to safe and quality medicines.
The renewed commitment emerged during a meeting in Abuja between NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, and her counterpart at NHIA, Kelechi Ohiri, who paid a courtesy visit to the agency’s headquarters.
At the heart of the discussions was the need for stronger institutional coordination to support the Federal Government’s goal of achieving universal health coverage and improving the overall quality of healthcare services available to Nigerians.
Prof. Adeyeye stressed that effective collaboration among regulatory bodies remains essential to safeguarding public health. She explained that involving both NAFDAC and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria in the procurement of medicines for healthcare facilities would significantly reduce the risk of counterfeit or expired drugs entering the supply chain.
According to her, stricter oversight in the pharmaceutical supply process would ensure that hospitals and health facilities dispense medicines that meet required safety, quality, and efficacy standards.
She further noted that NAFDAC and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria maintain oversight of pharmaceutical operations through regulatory inspections, compliance monitoring, and enforcement measures against erring companies. These measures, she said, include sanctions, license revocations, and the closure of facilities that fail to comply with Good Manufacturing Practice requirements.
The NAFDAC chief also drew attention to the realities faced by many Nigerians seeking medical care, particularly those enrolled under the national health insurance scheme. She observed that some patients continue to encounter challenges in accessing reliable and quality healthcare services.
Despite these concerns, she reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to strengthen partnerships with relevant institutions to ensure the consistent availability of safe medicines and reduce the burden on citizens seeking medical treatment. She added that these efforts align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
For his part, Dr. Ohiri said collaboration between regulatory institutions and healthcare providers remains critical to delivering effective health services nationwide.
He explained that the visit provided an opportunity to review the existing Memorandum of Understanding between both agencies and identify areas where cooperation could be expanded to support ongoing healthcare reforms.
The NHIA Director-General also pointed to the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund as a key policy tool designed to broaden health insurance coverage and respond to the healthcare needs of citizens, particularly at the grassroots level.
He commended Prof. Adeyeye for her commitment to protecting public health through strict regulation of medicines and assured that reforms underway within NHIA are aimed at addressing many of the challenges faced by patients across the country.
The strengthened engagement between the two agencies signals a growing push within government institutions to improve medicine regulation, strengthen healthcare systems, and expand access to quality treatment for Nigerians.
