The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has expressed readiness to collaborate with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to improve access to quality medicines in hospitals across the country.
This development aligns with the presidential directive aimed at achieving universal health coverage for all Nigerians.
The director-general of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, made this known in Abuja while receiving the director-general of NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, during a courtesy visit to her office.
Prof. Adeyeye underscored the importance of involving both NAFDAC and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) in the procurement processes of medicines. She said such collaboration is critical to curbing the circulation of counterfeit and expired drugs in healthcare facilities and ensuring that Nigerians have access to safe, effective, and high-quality medicines.
She further highlighted the regulatory roles of NAFDAC and PCN, noting that their responsibilities extend to monitoring compliance, sanctioning defaulters, revoking licenses, and, where necessary, shutting down pharmaceutical companies that fail to adhere to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.
The NAFDAC boss also expressed concern over the challenges Nigerians face in accessing quality healthcare services, particularly those covered under the NHIA scheme. She described the experiences of many patients as difficult and, at times, traumatic.
Reaffirming the agency’s commitment, Prof. Adeyeye pledged that NAFDAC would continue to strengthen partnerships with relevant government agencies to ensure the availability of quality medicines and alleviate the burden faced by citizens in accessing healthcare, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his remarks, the director-general of NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, commended Prof. Adeyeye for her leadership and dedication to safeguarding public health through the regulation of medicines and other products.
