The Federal Government says it is working to procure essential medicines to alleviate the rising cost of medicines and healthcare products. This was disclosed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, during the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day commemoration in Abuja on Thursday.
Pate highlighted that the three-year Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, introduced a year ago, aims to save lives, reduce physical and financial strain, and ensure better health for all Nigerians. He explained that local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products and commodities would help lower costs and ensure availability, contributing to the UHC goal of reducing the financial burden of healthcare services.
The Minister further emphasized that the government is implementing targeted measures to positively impact Nigeria’s economy, reduce physical and financial suffering, and align with UHC’s goal of decreasing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and the impoverishing effects of medical costs.
Regarding health insurance, Prof. Pate noted that 2 million additional individuals have been enrolled, bringing the total number of insured lives to 8 million. He stated that this represents a 14% increase in health insurance enrollment as of the third quarter of 2024. “If we had enrolled 2 million people each year since the scheme’s launch in 2005, we would have had about 40 million Nigerians with health insurance coverage today,” he added.
The Minister also mentioned that ₦45.9 billion has been disbursed through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to help indigent and vulnerable Nigerians access medical care without immediate payment. State governments’ equity funds also support care for the most vulnerable, complementing social sector interventions aimed at these groups.
Additionally, Pate revealed the government’s plan to purchase health insurance for target groups facing high premiums.
