National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has entered into a strategic collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority to improve access to safe and quality medicines in hospitals across Nigeria, in line with efforts to achieve universal health coverage.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, disclosed the development while hosting her NHIA counterpart, Kelechi Ohiri, at the agency’s headquarters.

Adeyeye stressed the need to involve both NAFDAC and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria in the procurement of medicines, noting that such collaboration would help eliminate counterfeit and expired drugs from healthcare facilities and guarantee access to safe and effective treatments.

She also highlighted ongoing concerns about the difficulties Nigerians face in accessing quality healthcare services, particularly under the NHIA scheme, while reaffirming NAFDAC’s commitment to working with relevant institutions to improve the situation.

The partnership, she said, aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and is aimed at reducing the burden on citizens seeking medical care.

On his part, Ohiri praised Adeyeye’s leadership in strengthening drug regulation and public health protection. He called for a review of the existing agreement between both agencies, as well as deeper collaboration to support ongoing healthcare reforms and improve the distribution and availability of medicines nationwide.