HEALTH: POLICY DOCUMENTS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF PATIENTS LAUNCHED BY FG

The Federal Government of Nigeria in its determination to improve healthcare delivery to the citizenry, has launched two documents 2^ndEdition of Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines and 6^thEdition of Nigerian Essential Medicines List for the betterment of patients.

In a statement signed by Boade Akinola (Mrs) the Director, Media and public Affairs, the Minister  of Health (State) Dr.Osagie Ehanire launched these policy documents which are veritable tools to be used for procurement of medicines and their use in the public sector, prescribing medicines in the public health sector, medicines information to Healthcare providers and re-imbursements of medicines in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) among others.

The Minister who was represented by the Director of Food and Drug Services Department, Pharm. (Mrs.) Grace Modupe Chukwumahimplored health providers across the country to take full advantage of these policy documents for the betterment of patients.

‘’Let me say without mincing words that the sure way to quality  health services lies in our willingness to strictly adhere to the many policy documents being churned out by the Federal Ministry of Health’’, Dr. Ehanire said.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Health is committed to regularly updating documents like these in order for the healthcare providers to be in tune with global best practices, Dr. Ehanire stated.

Assuring that the Ministry will not relent in its efforts to ensure the effective distribution of these policy documents and also monitor and evaluate its impact on the health system across the country, Dr. Ehanire called on State Ministries of Health to seize this opportunity to revise and adopt their policy documents in line with national policies and the World Health Organization (WHO).

He however called on the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Chief Medical Directors of Tertiary Health Institutions, Directors of Pharmaceutical Services of States and all other relevant stakeholders not to rest on their oars to ensure the successful implementation of these documents.

Prof. John Ohaju Obodo, Chairman of the Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines and the Essential Medicines List Review Committee, in his opening remarks noted that Standard Treatment Guideline and the Essential Medicines List were meant to assist Practitioners in providing better health care services and also to provide safe, efficacious and affordable medicines to satisfy the health care needs of the Majority of the population thereby ensuring the rational use of drugs and minimizing wastages at all levels of Health care delivery.