Health
National Hospital, CMF partner to boost Nigeria’s healthcare
The National Hospital, Abuja, and the Concerned Medics Foundation (CMF), a not-for-profit organisation, inaugurated a partnership on Tuesday to leverage diaspora expertise and enhance Nigeria’s healthcare delivery.
The partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja, will improve healthcare quality and accessibility by supporting medical professionals and patients through collaborative programmes, skills transfer, and diaspora doctors.
Dr Sadiya Gumi, CMF Chairperson and a Pediatric Consultant in the UK, described the initiative as a volunteer service where Nigerian doctors in the diaspora would provide free services.
“Assuming I can register 24 pediatricians, each of us could commit to a month-long visit. For instance, one person could come in January, another in February, and so on.
“This approach ensures a sustained presence, as a one-time outreach programme is insufficient. To drive meaningful change, we need a continuous flow of professionals providing regular support.
“Although the partnership with the National Hospital Abuja (NHA) is still in its pilot phase, approximately 24 Nigerian doctors with various specialties from the UK, USA, and Canada have already registered, with some non-Nigerian doctors also expressing interest.”
Explaining the process, Gumi said, “It’s similar to visiting family back home. You register with us and indicate your availability, saying, for instance, ‘I have two weeks free, and I can come to National Hospital.
“As a surgeon, you could then perform surgeries during your visit.”
Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, commended the initiative, stating it would impact Nigerians’ lives and help reverse brain drain in the health sector.
Abbas, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, pledged legislative support and encouraged stakeholders to back the initiative.
Ms Daju Kachollom, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, noted that the initiative aligned with the Health Workforce Migration Policy 2024, which aimed to strengthen and retain Nigeria’s health workforce.
Prof. Mahmud Raji, Chief Medical Director of National Hospital, expressed hope that the partnership would encourage more doctors and healthcare professionals to participate, ultimately increasing access to quality healthcare and achieving universal health coverage target.
Health
Experts call for pharma sector harmonisation
Health sector experts have called for the harmonisation of pharmaceutical activities in Nigeria to eliminate duplication, enhance efficiency, and improve access to quality medicines and health products.
The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement focused on aligning efforts under the Improving Access to Medicines through Policy and Technical Support (IMPACT) project.
Dr Tayo Hamzat, Supply Chain Management Officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO), said the engagement was timely, considering the number of ongoing but uncoordinated interventions in the sector.
“Harmonisation will lead to faster access to health products, lower costs, improved efficiency, and better regulatory oversight.
“It requires collaboration and a focus on strengthening national systems.”
He described Nigeria’s pharmaceutical system as “robust and huge” but hindered by weak coordination and fragmented management structures.
Dr Francis Ohanyido, Director-General of the West Africa Institute of Public Health, said such collaboration was “common sense” given limited development financing and the need to optimise resources.
“Market shaping is a critical tool.
“Harmonisation can help us identify clear gaps we need to fill, especially in preparation for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he said.
Dr Anthony Ayeke, Programme Manager for Health and Nutrition at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting a resilient, locally driven pharmaceutical sector.
“Harmonisation can accelerate local production, reduce import dependency, and improve healthcare system resilience,” he noted.
He also recommended regulatory streamlining, value chain capacity building, innovation, and public-private partnerships.
Dr Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the Pharmaceutical Value Chain Transformation Committee (PVAC), commended ongoing efforts under the IMPACT project.
Represented by Dr Muhammad Balarabe, Technical Associate at PVAC, he emphasised the committee’s focus on catalysing local production and attracting sustainable investment.
“Let’s use this platform to strengthen partnerships and align interventions with the vision of affordable, high-quality healthcare for all Nigerians,” he said.
Dr Obi Adigwe, Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), said fragmented interventions and redundant regulations had long stunted growth in the sector.
Represented by Prof. Philip Builders, Professor of Pharmaceutics at NIPRD he said: “Equitable access to quality medicine is the foundation of universal healthcare.
“The lack of access is not just a health issue; it’s about equity, national security, and economic survival.
“Harmonisation isn’t just about avoiding duplication; it’s about aligning policy, investment, and technical frameworks to achieve measurable results.”
He urged stakeholders to develop practical short, medium, and long-term strategies to make Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector self-reliant, globally competitive, and able to meet national healthcare demands.
The meeting brought together key government agencies, development partners, and private sector actors, each reaffirming a shared commitment to a unified, efficient pharmaceutical ecosystem in Nigeria.
NAN
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