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Tag: PharmAccess

  • FG, PharmAccess seal pact to raise standards in tertiary hospitals

    FG, PharmAccess seal pact to raise standards in tertiary hospitals

    The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring Nigerians have access to quality healthcare services, stressing that its resolve to standardize and strengthen care across federal tertiary hospitals remains firm.

    Underscoring this commitment, the government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social welfare entered into a collaboration with PharmaAccess, formalized the process in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Abuja over the weekend. 

    The partnership will drive the rollout of the SafeCare quality improvement program, aimed at elevating healthcare delivery, enhancing workforce capacity, and transforming teaching hospitals into centres of excellence.

    The initiative will be implemented through the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee, a body mandated to set and enforce minimum standards for tertiary healthcare. 

    It is expected to significantly improve patient outcomes while aligning with the Federal Government’s Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), which seeks to save lives, reduce financial hardship, and deliver equitable health outcomes nationwide.

    The signing ceremony brought together key stakeholders in the health sector, including Prof. Fatima Kyari, Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria; Prof. Rufai Yusuf Ahmad, Registrar of the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Registration Board of Nigeria; Mrs. Njide Ndili, Country Director of PharmAccess Nigeria; Dr. Ibironke Dada, Program Director, SafeCare; and Prof. Emem Bassey, Chairman of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals.

    In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako underscored the centrality of quality to healthcare reform, saying the Federal Government was determined to ensure that tertiary hospitals go beyond infrastructure to deliver care that meets global standards of safety, efficiency, and patient-centredness.

    “Our Federal tertiary hospitals must transform into vibrant hubs of healing and hope. This partnership will ensure that patients not only receive excellent medical care but are treated with dignity and compassion. 

    “Together, we are building trust between patients and providers and securing a healthier future for generations to come.”

    Represented by Dr. Kamil Shoretire, Director, Department of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, the Minister explained that the agreement with PharmAccess would help embed SafeCare’s internationally accredited standards across the system, allowing hospitals to undergo structured assessments, implement stepwise improvements, and track progress in real time through digitized platforms.

    Njide Ndili, Country Director of PharmAccess Nigeria, who described the agreement as a milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s health system, highlighted SafeCare’s global track record, noting that the program has been deployed in over 24 countries and more than 9,000 facilities.

    “In Nigeria, SafeCare has already been piloted in three federal tertiary hospitals with promising results. This collaboration will allow us to scale this impact nationwide, institutionalizing quality as a standard practice.

    “With this new partnership, Nigerian tertiary hospitals will not only undergo standardization of quality but also gain access to the tools, data, and support necessary to transform into centres of excellence,” she said.

    On his part, Prof. Philip Abiodun, Chairman of the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee, emphasized that the partnership aligns with the committee’s constitutional role of inspection, accreditation, and advisory functions. 

    He said the collaboration would enable hospitals to improve care in a structured manner.

    “The quality improvement framework we are putting in place will enable tertiary hospitals to undergo structured assessment, performance-based ranking, and capacity building. 

    “The data generated will guide resource allocation, training priorities, and investments to improve service delivery. This agreement marks the beginning of a new phase in our journey toward significantly improved tertiary healthcare services that Nigerians can be proud of,” he explained.

    Read Also: FG, HFN, PharmAccess explore healthcare transformation strategies 

    Dr. Ibironke Dada, SafeCare Program Director, highlighted the measurable outcomes of the program, citing the example of Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, which has recorded significant improvements in its SafeCare rating.

    “We have seen hospitals like FMC Ebute Metta move from lower SafeCare levels to higher ones, showing that systemic quality improvement is possible with strong leadership and commitment.

    “Our phased 24-month approach will help tertiary hospitals build robust quality teams, digitize their processes, and achieve continuous improvement,” she stressed.

    According to her, the program will begin with baseline assessments in federal teaching hospitals, followed by targeted training and the establishment of hospital quality teams. 

    Using a fully digitized monitoring system, progress will be tracked in real time, providing transparency and accountability,” she noted.

  • FG, HFN, PharmAccess explore healthcare transformation strategies 

    FG, HFN, PharmAccess explore healthcare transformation strategies 

    The federal government is ramping up its collaboration with the private sector to revitalise the nation’s health sector, recognizing it as the most viable and effective approach to achieving the key objectives of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), according to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate.

    Pate emphasised that public-private partnerships are crucial in addressing Nigeria’s healthcare challenges, particularly in overcoming issues such as inadequate infrastructure, limited access to essential services, and the shortage of healthcare professionals.

    The minister spoke in Abuja on Wednesday during a national dialogue on collaborative implementation of the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) in healthcare organized and facilitated by Health Federation of Nigeria (HFN) and PharmAccess.

    The policy dialogue that had in attendance government officials, healthcare leaders, and international experts was aimed at fostering public-private collaboration. 

    The participants also included the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, Chairman of the House Committee on Health Institutions, Hon. Amos Magaji; Director of Digital Transformations for Health (DTH) Lab, Prof. Ilona Kickbusch; President of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health and CEO of HealthAI, Ricardo Baptista Leite; Director of Health Systems at PharmAccess Amsterdam, Kwasi Boahene; the Country Director of PharmAccess Nigeria, Njide Ndili; representatives of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON); among others sector stakeholders.

    Calling for cooperative efforts between the government and private stakeholders to foster innovation, reduce costs, and enhance healthcare delivery—crucial elements for achieving UHC, Pate said, “Public-private partnerships are essential to realizing the health sector we aspire to”.

    Read Also: Moniepoint boosts healthcare system with seamless digital financial solutions for community pharmacies

    In his keynote address, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Alausa emphasized the government’s multi-pillar strategy to reform the healthcare sector, highlighting the necessity of utilizing accurate health data to inform policy decisions. 

    Emphasising the role of digital health solutions and data analytics in streamlining healthcare delivery while advocating for a unified approach to healthcare governance, Alausa, said, “We must leverage technology and data analytics to improve health outcomes across the nation,” 

    In his presentation, Ricardo Baptista Leite, while discussing the future of healthcare with a focus on better outcomes, quality of life, and well-being for all, highlighted the need for a shift in the approach to healthcare, stressing the importance of embracing artificial intelligence, effective policies, and impactful investments. 

    Emphasizing adequate and sustainable funding of such systems, Leite called for a more proactive, preventive approach, noting that the nation’s current health systems function more like ‘disease systems,’ as they are reactive, responding mainly to disease outbreaks and illness. 

    In her goodwill message, Director of Digital Transformations for Health (DTH) Lab, Prof. Ilona Kickbusch, also advocated for a comprehensive approach to digital transformation that emphasizes youth engagement, addresses the digital divide, promotes mental health, and ensures robust governance to protect health and well-being in the digital era. 

    Saying that digital technology is not only a tool for enhancing healthcare delivery but also a new determinant of health, Kickbusch called for a reimagining of public health and universal health coverage, particularly in light of the digital divide and its implications for mental health.

    She also stressed the need to involve young people in shaping Nigeria’s digital health landscape, given that over half of the Nigerian population is under 19. 

    She said mental health, health insurance, and sexual and reproductive health are critical priorities for youth, while stressing that investment in digital health literacy for young Nigerians is crucial in addition to solidarity-based approach to data governance to prevent digital practices that could harm health.

    In her welcome address, the President of HFN, Pamela Ajayi, emphasized the need for a policy dialogue of this nature to address pressing healthcare challenges.

    “This dialogue provides an essential platform for the private sector to engage with policymakers,” she noted, highlighting the significance of the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) in ensuring that development efforts align with national priorities.

    The dialogue featured three panels, each focused on addressing key healthcare challenges facing the country and offering practical solutions to navigate the pressing issues.