Prof Pate reels out Health Ministry’s scorecard in one year

Speaking at the Ministerial Sectoral Update for the Present Administration in Radio House, Abuja, Prof. Pate said over the last several months, the Ministry has made considerable progress in delivering Mr President’s reform agenda (Renewed Hope Agenda).

The Minister said the Ministry signed a strategic compact with all the 36 States of the Federation and FCT, endorsed by Mr. President, during the unveiling of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (SWAp) in December 2023.

He noted that for the first time, the Ministry’s development partners (private sector and civil society) signed a Compact governing their joint operations, adding that $3 billion was pledged by their partners, which reflecting their confidence in Mr. President’s agenda. 

“Of this pledge we have signed $932 million grant with GFATM, $200 million with a philanthropic foundation and expecting additional $60 million in grants, $150 million announced by the Gavi Alliance, in addition to US$1 billion facility governed by MOU signed with Afreximbank to unlock the healthcare value chains. Additional resources are being mobilized”.

He said the Ministry has begun to strengthen the regulatory framework within the sector, adding that there are 16 professional regulatory bodies and other regulators of pharmaceuticals, such as NAFDAC, pharmaceutical council, medical laboratories, medical and dental council, nursing and midwifery council, and other aspects of the ministry’s stewardship role that we have repositioned and reinvigorated their leadership.

“We have also engaged constructively with health professional associations and unions to foster a healthy work environment. We have embarked on an ambitious digital transformation agenda to be on the path of electronic records, quality data for decision making and stronger data governance.

“Additionally, we have set up a committee on standards for tertiary healthcare, which has been absent for eight years. This committee is tasked with defining the standards for tertiary facilities, in line with the National Health Act. The details of these standards are now accessible online”, he stated.

The Minister said the Ministry oversees 30 teaching hospitals, 22 federal medical centers, and 21 specialty hospitals, along with five core agencies, 16 regulatory bodies, 10 departments, and three special units.

At the primary health care level, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, in collaboration with the States, the Minister said the Ministry has outlined a plan to revive 8300 primary health care centers across the nation to make them fully functional and to expand and upgrade to 17,000 Primary Health Care Centers over the next 3-years.

The expansion, according to him is to refurbish these centers, equip them, making them fully functional to deliver essential services such as immunization, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health services, treatment of non-communicable diseases, and to facilitate referrals to secondary facilities. 

Prof. Pate however noted that, this ambitious plan requires the states to complement the efforts of the federal government.

Regarding the revitalization of primary health care, which aligns with the President’s directive, he disclosed  that 260 billion Naira is already currently available at the state level for this purpose through IDA financing and the BHCPF.

“The revitalization of our primary health care centers hinges on the availability of resources and hence significant efforts made to mobilize and deploy the funds. 

“We are now providing guidelines to assist the states in the implementation of the revitalization projects, ensuring that the resources are used prudently for their intended purposes”.

While stating that Mr. President was recognized by the African Union as the African champion for human resources for health and community health delivery, the Minister said over the next three years, at least 120,000 frontline health workers serving rural populations will be equipped with the necessary skills.

He said at least 1,400 Primary Health Care Centers are now equipped to provide skilled birth attendance, funded through the NPHCDA and the NHIA, covering the 8,300 facilities, saying more than 2,400 health workers, including nurses, doctors, and midwives, have been recruited to provide services to Nigerians, many of whom are women in rural areas delivering essential services.

Continuing, Prof. Pate said in the area of vaccination, over 5 million Nigerian children have been vaccinated against diphtheria using pentavalent vaccine. More than 10 million Nigerian children received the tetanus and diphtheria vaccines. 

“We are working hard to stop the circulating variant polio viruses showing up in Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi States. We have delivered measles vaccines to more than 5 million children to protect them against measles, and 4.95 million girls 9-14 years in 15 States have received HPV vaccines to protect them against cervical cancer, representing 80% target, among the highest in the world. 6 million more are planned to receive the vaccines in the next phase for 21 states starting from May 27, 2024.

He said in terms of hospital equipment and infrastructure, the federal hospitals have successfully executed 201 specific infrastructure projects in the last 1 year, adding that 179 specific pieces of important medical equipment were procured by the federal government and distributed across the six geopolitical zones. 

According to him, in 33 of federal tertiary hospitals, approximately 4.5 million Nigerians accessed outpatient health services, and 1.6 million had inpatient admissions which shows that Nigerians are using the services provided by the Federal Government in those facilities, supported by an amazing army of health professionals.

“We are witnessing substantial upgrade in healthcare infrastructure, a testament to the President’s leadership. Plans are underway for the groundbreaking ceremony of zones, including diagnostic centers and oncology centers. These developments are part of a broader initiative involving public-private partnerships. 

“In the last 7 months more than 100 young medical graduates secured residency positions in the US and we issued the certificates of need for them to be trained and return home, and changed the policy to include domestic as well as internationally trained medical graduates. 

“We are working with Ministry of Labour as well as Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission to address long standing legacy issues of compensation and allowances which will take time and more patience from health workers.

“All the above are on the supply side, but on the demand side, to expand affordability and financial protection, we are repositioning NHIA to expand insurance coverage for all Nigerians, especially the poor and vulnerable, not excluding civil servants who need deepened coverage.

“1.8 million Nigerians are covered through the Vulnerable Groups Fund at NHIA. Reforms of the NHIA soon to be announced will address areas, including expanding private health insurance for informal sector, and strengthening the HMOs in tandem with SSHIAs at the States, repositioning NHIA as an effective and efficient regulator of the health insurance markets.

“Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain – The third pillar of our agenda is to unlock the healthcare value chain. The President has emphasized the importance of domesticating production capabilities, to retain economic value, and create jobs for our youth. 

“In October, Mr. President approved the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain. Since then, we have made steady progress in policy changes to facilitate this goal.

Prof. Pate said the first policy measure, a draft Executive Order, has been produced and finalized, saying once signed by the President, it will reduce barriers related to the import of raw materials and equipment for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. 

According to him, this policy change will enable Nigerians to produce essential items domestically, such as syringes, needles, generic pharmaceuticals, test kits, and long-lasting insecticide-treated nets for malaria.

“We aim to shift the production of bed nets, currently manufactured abroad, to local production, fostering self-sufficiency and economic growth. One of the world’s largest treated bed nets manufacturer is exploring ways to establish a manufacturing plant in Nigeria to produce for Africa.

The Minister assured that the forthcoming executive order, prepared in collaboration with the Attorney General, will pave the way for local manufacturing, job creation, and economic value retention within Nigeria. 

“This initiative will shape the pharmaceutical market to support local industries. Additionally, three entities are set to produce test kits, with one already operational in Lagos and two more on the way. This marks a significant shift from the past 25 years, where such kits were imported. 

“The policy changes initiated by the President are now fostering domestic production and more are on the horizon.

He said the new Director-General of the Center for Disease Control (NCDC) is playing a pivotal role in the security of the health sector, noting that NCDC’s success lies in its ability to prevent diseases from becoming widespread, as evidenced by the containment of the Lassa outbreak and the rapid response to meningitis with the introduction of the pentavalent meningitis vaccine. 

Prof. Pate disclosed that the President has also approved additional resources for the NCDC to have contingent financing available, allowing for prompt action during health crises. 

“The One Health Steering Committee comprising health, environment, agriculture and water ministries to coordinate the approach to preventing outbreaks is in full effect. We have submitted Nigeria’s application to the Pandemic Fund for increased financing”.

While stating the Ministry’s resolve to eradicate Malaria, he said they have initiated a major effort to reassess their approach to malaria, with the goal of accelerating progress towards its elimination, including better case management, affordable medicines, optimized delivery of tools, careful introduction of vaccines when available, community engagement and data systems.