FG procuring essential medicines for public health facilities, says Pate

Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, says the federal government is pool-procuring essential medicines in public hospitals.

Pate spoke in Abuja on Thursday at an event marking Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day.

This year’s commemoration had the theme, “Health on the house of government”.

“We recognise the increasing cost of health care (services and drugs), and to provide succour to the population in the short term, under the PVAC, we are in the process of pool-procuring essential medicines to ensure quality, availability, and affordability of these drugs within our public facilities,” Pate said.

“In the medium and long term, the local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products and commodities will help reduce costs and ensure availability within the country.

“This contributes to UHC’s goal of reducing the financial burden of health services.”

The minister said the government is undertaking deliberate and well-considered measures that will impact Nigeria’s economy positively and reduce physical and financial pains.

He noted that the measure aligns with the goal of the UHC to reduce out-of-pocket health expenditure and impoverishment from healthcare spending.

“Over the last year, the prices of food, drugs, transportation, and subsistence have increased. All of which impact health-seeking behaviour, health outcomes, and the cost of health services,” he said.

“There will be a cost to achieve the plans laid out. The required revenue must be raised responsibly without causing Nigerians additional pain.

“The latest national health account expenditure data by the ministry of health and social welfare, and the National Bureau of Statistics estimates the total health expenditure per Nigerian at under $100.

“The government spends $15.5 per capita, and external development assistance accounts for $10.5 per capita.

“This means Nigerians spent over $70 per capita. There needs to be a radical shift in this distribution.

“We must transfer risks and financial burdens from individuals to governments and their implementation schemes.”