Branded Drugs: NHIA Signs MOU With 12 Pharmaceutical Companies

As part of efforts to guarantee medicine security, the federal government has signed an MOU with twelve pharmaceutical companies.

At the event in Abuja, the Director General National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Professor Mohammed Sambo said the MOU was aimed at eradicating out-of-stock syndrome.

He said this was also to facilitate the supply of affordable, acceptable, accessible, available, and quality medicines and other products.

The DG said 12 pharmaceutical companies would be branding 33 products for the health insurance ecosystem in the first phase.

‘‘I must mention that, with your cooperation, this initiative will help to reduce the cost of medicines especially that of intravenous fluids which will reduce by as much as 50% of current market price.”

He explained that the initiative was geared towards the strengthening of local pharmaceutical manufacturers, which will guarantee medicine security.

Going down memory lane, the DG said ”The initiative is to enhance the production of high-quality medicines that will inspire the confidence of users. In order to bring this initiative to fruition on August 18%, 2020,  inaugurated the medicines supply implementation Committee. The Committee had its inaugural meeting on 224 of September 2020.”

Professor Sambo noted that the NHIA has chosen seven States (Delta, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Niger, Osun, and Sokoto states) and the FCT for the pilot phase of implementation of this initiative.

The DG said a total of 44 submissions were received from Pharmaceutical Companies and DMOs, the submissions were scrutinized and synthesized by the Selection Committee, and 20 companies and 8 DMOs were selected to provide services for the initiative.

.”Negotiations were held with the selected Pharmaceutical Companies and DMOs. After the negotiations, an agreement was reached with 12 Pharmaceutical Companies and 8 DMOs.” he added.

A representative Committee of Chief Medical Directors,  Dr Yahaya Baba Adamu who said the drugs will be highly affordable and effective, urged all Nigerians to support the initiative.

On his part, the  Marketing Manager, Sam Pharmaceutical LTD, Mr Suresh Nair, promised his company support,  despite the dwilling economy to provide quality drugs.