President Bola Tinubu is committed to exploring local vaccine and medicine production to enhance the health sector’s self-sufficiency, the Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Anas said.
Dr Anas, however, noted that there is a need for increased public-private partnerships in the health sector.
She spoke at the 2023 Healthcare Leadership Conference organised by the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria in Lagos, with the theme “Igniting Change: Mobilising Healthcare in West Africa for a Sustainable Future.”
In a press statement made available to our correspondent on Friday, Anas stated that though the progress in the healthcare industry is commendable, there is still ample room for enhancement.
She further emphasised President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement of domestic solutions and the adoption of best practices that can promote a collaborative partnership between the government and the private sector.
“The President is committed to exploring local vaccine and medicine production to enhance the health sector’s self-sufficiency,” she disclosed.
In her remarks, the President of the HFN, Dr. Pamela Ajayi, explained that integrating the public and private sectors in healthcare is essential to achieving Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria.
She stressed the necessity of effective collaboration while safeguarding patients’ interests.
According to her, the integrated approach will lead to a healthcare system that combines private-sector innovation with public-sector inclusivity, ensuring better outcomes for all.
On his part, the Lagos State Commissioner of Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, noted that robust partnerships will enhance better healthcare delivery.
The statement noted that the stakeholders unanimously agreed that the regulatory environment should be comprehensively reviewed to attract private sector participation, especially at the primary healthcare level.
“This resolution underscores the conference’s commitment to deepening robust public-private partnerships that can transform the healthcare landscape across West Africa. Such partnerships, starting at the grassroots level, are expected to enhance accessibility, affordability, and the overall quality of healthcare services,” it declared.
The HFN is a coalition of stakeholders in the private healthcare sector. It is an apolitical, non-partisan, non-profit organisation whose aim is to collectively advocate for improved Nigeria’s private health sector.
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