In a bid to combat the escalating prices of drugs and pharmaceutical products, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is gearing up to issue an Executive Order aimed at significantly reducing costs across the country. This announcement was made by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammed Pate, during the second edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing Series held in Abuja yesterday.
The surge in drug prices, attributed to the ongoing forex crisis, has been a growing concern in recent months. Minister Pate revealed that the Tinubu administration has allocated N50 billion in the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to revamp and expand the nation’s Primary Health Care (PHC) centers, as part of efforts to address the issue.
During the briefing, Minister Pate, alongside his counterpart in Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, highlighted the administration’s commitment to bolstering the health sector. This includes the recruitment of 2,497 medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, midwives, and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs), to strengthen service delivery and bridge existing gaps.
Addressing concerns over the departure of multinational pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Sanofi, Minister Pate assured that the government is actively investigating the matter. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a robust pharmaceutical sector to meet the healthcare needs of the populace.
The forthcoming Executive Order signals the government’s determination to prioritize affordable healthcare and mitigate the financial burden on citizens. With concerted efforts and strategic initiatives, the Tinubu administration aims to foster a healthier and more resilient healthcare system for all Nigerians.
