Health Minister meets with Nigerian pharmaceutical companies over surge in medicine prices

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, has met with the representatives and CEOs of Pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria over the surge in the prices of medicines. This meeting which was held at the 64th National Council for Health, #NCH64, in Ekiti was to listen and understand the perspectives of pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria better so that workable solutions can be found in the national public interest.

The National Council of Health is the apex policy-making body in the Nigerian healthcare sector. According to Pate, the federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is working towards policy actions that may address the high prices of medicines, especially for the most vulnerable Nigerians

He stated that the federal government, as part of its agenda, is keen to find ways to reverse the hardship of Nigerians in this regard. A critical focus of Nigeria’s Health sector renewal is unlocking value chains of which the ‘Unlocking Healthcare Value-chain initiative’ was recently created. 

“We have scheduled an invitation-only meeting next week with the key national actors in the industry to follow up and find workable solutions,” Pate stated.

The minister said he already met with the representatives and chief executives of pharmaceutical companies at the ongoing 64th National Council on Health in Ekiti State.

He sought to gain insights into their perspectives and challenges, aiming to find workable solutions that protect the public interest.

“We are concerned about the high out-of-pocket expenses Nigerians experience to access medicines and other pharmaceutical products,” the minister stated.

“The government as part of its Renewed Hope Agenda, is keen to find ways to reverse the hardship of Nigerians in this regard.”

He further noted that the ministry is working towards policy actions that may address the high prices of medicines, especially for the most vulnerable Nigerians