FEC approves N10.3bn for anti-retroviral drugs, kits, others

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Wednesday, approved the sum of N10.3 billion for healthcare products, including 3rd line anti retroviral drugs.

Ali Pate, minister of health and coordinating minister for social welfare, disclosed this while briefing the State House journalists after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.

Pate stated that the Ministry had submitted two memos related to the health and social welfare sector, “in line with the President’s aspiration to ensure that Nigerians get access to quality health services and that they can afford and for which we’ll be making steady progress, FEC approved contract of 10,299,000,000 naira for various products that are linked to enhancing the accessibility and affordability of health commodities, health services by Nigerians.”

According to him, the first category was the third line antiretroviral drugs.

Recall that FEC had earlier approved the first line antiretroviral drugs, second and third line for those who are resistant.

Following recent developments around global health financing, Nigeria is now shifting towards domestic financing to allow Nigerians continue on treatment they require.

Pate also revealed that FEC also approved procurement of locally manufactured diagnostic kits for diabetes patients.

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He noted that diabetes had become a major issue in Nigeria’s healthcare system, as it’s among the fastest growing segment.

“We have lots of our population suffering from diabetes, and some are not even aware they have diabetes.

“In addition, we are having a local company for the first time, one of the first in the continent who will manufacture this diagnostic test kits in Nigeria.

“This is a company based out in Lagos, which we had commissioned. It’s a private company, but it’s manufacturing in Nigeria”, he said.

He noted that the Government would be procuring the diagnostic kits locally from the Nigeria company, as part of plans to promote made in Nigeria goods

“This is bringing to life the effort to unlock the healthcare value chain by encouraging local manufacturers. So, Federal Government is procuring N2 billion naira worth of those diagnostic kits. Out of this total amount that I had mentioned.

“So the devices are also being procured and they will be distributed. The health workers will be trained through primary health care centers and other facilities, and those commodities, we believe will bring relief to many Nigerians who are poor and vulnerable and cannot otherwise afford it. So that’s also what was approved by the Federal Executive Council”, he added.

The Council also second granted approval for the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi, to procure a mobile X-ray machine, and also the rehabilitation and equipping of a computerised CT scan, a 64 slice CT scan at the cost of N2.1 billion

The equipment is expected to strengthen the diagnostic services and the clinical care Nigerians will receive in that hospital.