By Dominic Dominic.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced plans to deepen collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to improve Nigerians’ access to quality healthcare services and safe medicines.
This initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s push for Universal Health Coverage under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the NHIA Director-General, Kelechi Ohiri, in Abuja.
Prof. Adeyeye emphasized the need to involve NAFDAC and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) in the procurement of medicines to ensure safety and quality.
She noted that such collaboration would help eliminate counterfeit and expired drugs from healthcare facilities and improve patient outcomes nationwide.
The NAFDAC DG highlighted the agency’s regulatory responsibilities, including monitoring compliance, sanctioning defaulters, and shutting down non-compliant pharmaceutical companies.
She also expressed concern over the difficulties many Nigerians face in accessing healthcare under the NHIA scheme, describing patient experiences as challenging.
Prof. Adeyeye reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to partnering with relevant stakeholders to ensure the availability of safe, effective, and affordable medicines.
In response, Dr. Ohiri praised NAFDAC’s leadership and stressed that stronger institutional collaboration, alongside reforms and initiatives like the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, would significantly improve healthcare access for Nigerians.
