The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced a strategic partnership with pharmaceutical companies to produce NHIA-branded medications, as part of efforts to enhance access to quality drugs and restore public confidence in the national health insurance programme.
This initiative was revealed by the NHIA Coordinator for Oyo State, Mr. Babajide Daramola, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ibadan.
According to Daramola, the move is a significant step toward strengthening the delivery of healthcare services and addressing long-standing concerns about the quality and availability of drugs under the NHIA scheme.
“To ensure adequate drug availability for our enrollees, we are now working with pharmaceutical companies to produce our own NHIA-branded medications,” he said. “These drugs will be distributed across all NHIA-accredited healthcare facilities nationwide and will reflect our renewed commitment to quality.”
He added that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with partner companies has already been signed and implementation is expected to begin this year.
Daramola also urged enrollees to report any irregularities they encounter at healthcare facilities, particularly relating to the quality or unavailability of prescribed medications.
“If an enrollee is forced to purchase drugs outside the NHIA system or receives substandard medication, they should report it. In such cases, we ensure reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses,” he said.
He reaffirmed NHIA’s commitment to quality assurance, noting that the agency regularly inspects healthcare facilities and investigates complaints. However, he acknowledged that some reported cases have been found to be false or unsubstantiated.
Clarifying misconceptions about the types of medications provided, Daramola explained that the NHIA—like health insurance systems in other countries—primarily dispenses generic drugs, which are medically equivalent to their branded counterparts.
“Globally, health insurance schemes rely on generics. Whether in the UK, the US, or Germany, generic drugs are the standard. They have the same potency and therapeutic value as branded drugs,” he said.
Daramola also reminded the public of the agency’s official name change from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), following the enactment of the NHIA Act on May 19, 2022.
Despite ongoing reforms, several enrollees have voiced concerns about persistent drug shortages and the quality of medications provided.
Mrs. Esther Adedeji, a beneficiary of the scheme, expressed frustration over frequent stockouts at the NHIA pharmacy within the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
“I’ve visited the pharmacy multiple times, but the drugs are often unavailable. I usually have no choice but to buy them outside at higher prices,” she said.
Another enrollee, Mr. Anthony Yusuf, complained about the quality of medications and limited drug coverage.
“Often, the drugs are substandard, and sometimes we’re told our HMO or NHIA plan doesn’t cover certain prescriptions,” he said.
Mr. Francis Ogunsola noted inconsistent drug availability at the same UCH pharmacy. “Some days the drugs are available, other days they’re not. But when they are, it’s very helpful,” he added.
Responding to these concerns, Dr. Happy Adedapo, Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Oyo State, attributed the challenges to inconsistent funding and rising drug costs.
He called on the federal government to provide increased and sustained funding for the NHIA, while ensuring effective monitoring and accountability in the scheme’s implementation.
“Government must move beyond rhetoric and start delivering on healthcare promises. Many policy initiatives are still pending full implementation,” Dr. Adedapo said.
He stressed the importance of collaborative efforts among healthcare stakeholders to build a more reliable and self-sufficient system.
“As long as we continue to neglect our healthcare infrastructure, the trend of public officials seeking medical treatment abroad will persist. We must address corruption and ensure proper utilisation of public funds,” he concluded.
