The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved Medipool, a landmark group purchasing initiative designed to lower the cost of essential healthcare products and strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
Announcing the decision after the sixth FEC meeting of the year, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, explained that Medipool leverages the federal government’s buying power to negotiate better prices for medical commodities and ensure their availability where most needed.
Driving Affordable, Quality Healthcare Through Strategic Purchasing
Prof. Pate described Medipool as a comprehensive solution addressing key challenges in the health sector, with a focus on:
Procurement planning & logistics
Distribution monitoring
Quality assurance & regulatory compliance
Financial management & payment systems
Capacity building & training
Support for local manufacturers & import substitution
The initiative, developed under a public-private partnership model, aims to stimulate local pharmaceutical production while guaranteeing a steady supply of essential medicines nationwide.
“Medipool has been thoroughly vetted by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and benchmarked against successful models in Kenya, South Africa, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and beyond,” Pate noted.
Strategic Alignment with Presidential Health Reforms
Prof. Pate emphasized that Medipool complements President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Order of June 2024, which incentivizes local pharmaceutical manufacturing by removing tariffs on raw materials. The Executive Order also mandates demand aggregation across the health sector to foster a more robust domestic market.
“This initiative is a critical intervention to reduce drug costs, improve quality, and drive local production — ensuring better access to life-saving medicines for Nigerians,” Pate stated.
Tackling Rising Drug Prices — A Global and Local Priority
The Minister acknowledged that soaring pharmaceutical costs are not unique to Nigeria, citing similar interventions in the United States and other countries. For over 18 months, the Nigerian government has been exploring solutions to ease the burden on citizens, culminating in the approval of Medipool.
N2.3 Billion Cardiac Catheterization Lab for Sokoto
In a separate approval, the FEC greenlit a N2.3 billion project for the procurement and installation of a cardiac catheterization machine at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.
The facility will enable advanced diagnosis and treatment of critical heart and vascular conditions, reducing the need for Nigerians to seek such specialized care abroad.
“This investment will not only save lives but also curb outbound medical tourism by providing world-class cardiac services within Nigeria,” Prof. Pate added.
Credit: Nairametrics
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