FG Assures Activation of Reports of Committee on Establishment of National Healthcare Facility Regulatory Agency (NHFRA)

Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako Honourable Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare receiving the report of the Committee on Establishment of National Healthcare Facility Regulatory Agency NHFRA, from Dr. Richardson Ajayi Chairman of the Committee.

"NHFRA is not being set up to undermine any professional leader or take up the work of any existing regulatory body." Iziak Salako.

.... Says "the whole essence is for us to be able to say that these are the standards of practice in the country and have a body that can support states in their regulatory activity because states are already doing regulations, they are the ones that register facilities, and, also have some level of monitoring of compliance of those facilities to their set rules."

"NHFRA is a timely and visionary response to the longstanding gaps in regulating both public and private healthcare facilities across the country." Kachallom, Perm Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has assured of studying and activating of reports/recommendations of the Committee on Establishment of National Healthcare Facility Regulatory Agency (NHFRA).

Making this known is Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare when the Committee given the mandate to provide a framework for the establishment of a National Healthcare Facility Regulatory Agency NHFRA submitted its report to the Ministry.

Iziak Salako, while speaking during the official presentation of the report, underscored the importance of the overarching objective for setting up the proposed Agency. 

He asserted that government realised the critical need to establish an independent body that will address the gaps of standard and quality existing in health sector.

The Minister of State assured all professional bodies within the Health Sector that, "NHFRA is not being set up to undermine any professional leader or take up the work of any existing regulatory body", he stated.

"The whole essence is for us to be able to say that these are the standards of practice in the country and have a body that can support states in their regulatory activity because states are already doing regulations, they are the ones that register facilities, and, also have some level of monitoring of compliance of those facilities to their set rules.

"So let me assure you, members of the Committee, that the reports and recommendations are not going to sit on the shelves. We're going to make every effort to look at how we can activate it to ensure that we improve healthcare sector in our country", the Minister further stated. 

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom affirmed that NHFRA is a timely and visionary response to the longstanding gaps in regulating both public and private healthcare facilities across the country.

Represented by Pharmacist Olubunmi Aribeana, Director Food & Drugs Department of the Ministry, she commended the Dr. Richardson Ajayi's led committee whose work started in September 2024, culminating in a comprehensive report that not only outlines the framework for NHFRA, but also includes a draft establishment deal, resource mobilisation plan and implementation strategy.

Presenting the report, the Chairman, Committee for the Establishment of National Healthcare Facility Regulatory Agency NHFRA Dr. Richardson Ajayi asserted that the proposed regulatory agency aligns with federal government's commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage UHC and the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) by ensuring that all healthcare facilities meet fundamental standards of care.

This is contained in a statement issued and signed by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Abuja.