The federal government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 12 pharmaceutical companies on Wednesday to guarantee medicine security.

Mohammed Sambo, the director-general of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), made this known in Abuja on Wednesday while signing the MOU with the NHIA Medicines Supply Initiative (NMSI).

Mr Sambo said the initiative was geared towards strengthening local pharmaceutical manufacturers, which would ultimately guarantee medicine security.

“I inaugurated the NMS committee on February 19, 2020. The committee submitted its report in June 2020.

“I adopted the branding of NHIA medicines and other health products as the way to go in order to eradicate out-of-stock syndrome as well as ensure the quality of its medicines.

“It also recommended the setting up an implementation committee to bring the initiative to fruition,’’ he said.

Mr Sambo said the initiative of branding NHIA medicines and other health products was to facilitate the supply of affordable, acceptable, accessible, available, and quality medicines and other health products.

“In order to bring this initiative to fruition on August 18, 2020, I inaugurated the Medicines Supply Implementation Committee. The committee had its inaugural meeting on September 22, 2020,’’ he said.

Mr Sambo said seven states were selected- Delta, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Niger, Osun, Sokoto states, and the FCT, for the pilot phase of the initiative implementation.

He said 44 submissions were received from pharmaceutical companies and destination management organisations (DMO).

“Negotiations were held with the selected pharmaceutical companies and DMOS. After the negotiations, an agreement was reached with 12 pharmaceutical companies and eight DMOS.

“The 12 pharmaceutical companies will be branding 33 products for the health insurance ecosystem in the first phase,’’ he said.

Mr Sambo stated that the production of these products was anticipated to commence within the next month.

Also speaking, Suresh Nair, marketing manager of Sam Pharmaceutical Ltd., said the company would give the government all the necessary support and provide quality drugs.

(NAN)