NESG, stakeholders brainstorm over strengthening healthcare regulatory bodies

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) held a pivotal pre-summit webinar in preparation for the 30th Nigerian Economic Summit (#NES30).

The webinar, themed “Strengthening Healthcare Regulatory Bodies in Nigeria,” gathered experts and stakeholders to discuss the challenges within Nigeria’s healthcare regulatory framework and develop actionable recommendations for enhancing regulatory capacity to ensure effective healthcare regulation across the country.

Opening Remarks: Dr. Oyebanji Filani, Honourable Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Ekiti State, and Steering Committee member of NESG’s Health Policy Commission (HPC), delivered the welcome address.

Dr. Filani emphasized the crucial role of a strong healthcare system in national development. He highlighted the significant impact that well-resourced regulatory bodies can have on public safety, investor confidence, and overall healthcare quality in Nigeria.

He noted that addressing current challenges urgently is essential to fostering an environment conducive to healthcare development, which, in turn, supports socioeconomic advancement.

In his keynote address, Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the Unlocking Healthcare Value-Chain Initiative, noted that healthcare currently contributes 3-4% of Nigeria’s GDP, a stark contrast to 17% in the United States and 15-20% in Europe.

He underscored the necessity of a robust healthcare system for national stability and competitiveness.

Dr. Mukhtar also outlined the government’s ongoing healthcare reform plan, anchored on four pillars: effective governance, improved population health outcomes, unlocking the healthcare value chain, and enhancing health security, particularly in pandemic preparedness. The plan, covering 2022-2026, includes cross-cutting themes such as regulation, financing, and digitalization.

He further discussed the Presidential Initiative to unlock the healthcare value chain, launched in October 2023. This initiative involves 20 key regulatory agencies and five ministries and aims to increase local pharmaceutical production, reduce medical tourism, and attract investment.

Significant achievements include a presidential executive order removing duties on machinery and materials for medical product manufacturing and the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to support research and development platforms for vaccine production and to strengthen regulatory bodies.

The webinar highlighted the challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare regulatory bodies, such as limited budgets, insufficient staffing, and outdated laws.

These issues hinder thorough inspections, compliance enforcement, and the overall effectiveness of regulatory oversight, posing risks to patient safety. The National Health Policy (2016) also pointed out the absence of an institutional framework to regulate quality and standards and the lack of robust enforcement mechanisms, which allows unqualified individuals to practice medicine illegally.

During the panel discussions, Dr. Victor K. Gbenro, Deputy Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), discussed the MDCN’s role in regulating medical education and upholding standards in medical training and practice across Nigeria.

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Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), emphasized the importance of local pharmaceutical manufacturing.

She stated that manufacturing 70% of pharmaceuticals locally and importing 30% would allow for better monitoring and adherence to good manufacturing practices.

Ms. Modupeola Ogundimu, Director, Lagos Zone, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), spoke on the challenges facing health insurance in Nigeria and opportunities for improving the regulatory environment to promote Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

She also discussed the impact of recent economic hardships on health insurance and the steps needed to strengthen the NHIA’s regulatory mandate.

The webinar underscored the importance of strengthening healthcare regulatory bodies to ensure a transparent and well-regulated healthcare sector in Nigeria.

Improved regulatory frameworks are essential for attracting domestic and foreign investment, enhancing the global competitiveness of African healthcare industries, and fostering regional integration and trade in healthcare products and services.