The federal government is strategising to end the out-of-stock syndrome of drugs in Nigeria.

Mohammed Sambo, the director-general of the National Health Insurance Authority, said this in Abuja while addressing journalists in collaboration with NAFDAC.

Mr Sambo said the authority had engaged several stakeholders, including pharmaceutical manufacturers and companies, to achieve its rebranding agenda to proffering solutions to eradicate out-of-stock syndrome.

“I inaugurated the NHIA Medicines Supply Committee on February 19, 2020. The committee submitted its report in June 2020 and adopted branding of NHIA medicines and other health products to ensure the quality of its medicines,” Mr Sambo said.

He said the branding of medicines and other health products aimed to facilitate the supply of affordable, acceptable, accessible, available, and quality medicines and other health products.

According to him, the initiative is to enhance the production of high-quality medicines to inspire users’ confidence. Mr Sambo also inaugurated the Medicines Supply Implementation Committee to pilot the affair with relevant stakeholders.

Mr Sambo said 12 pharmaceutical companies were selected and would be branding 33 products for the health insurance ecosystem in the first phase. According to him, the authority chose seven states: Delta, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Niger, Osun and Sokoto and Abuja for the pilot phase of implementation of this initiative.

NAFDAC director-general Mojisola Adeyeye said the collaboration between the two agencies was mandated to regulate and control the importation, exportation, manufacture and advertisement, including the distribution, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, packaged water, detergents and chemicals.

Ms Adeyeye said the government recently launched the operational guidelines for the 2022 National Health Insurance Authority Act as part of efforts to ensure all Nigerians have access to affordable healthcare services.

“The operational guidelines are crucial to clarifying the roles, responsibilities, and obligations of various stakeholders in the health sector because access to affordable quality health care for all Nigerians is key on the path to achieving Universal Health Coverage,” she said.

(NAN)