On May 15th, 2023, the PharmAccess Nigeria SafeCare team visited the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Office in Abuja to deliver a partnership update presentation to the NHIA Management team.
The partnership between NHIA and PharmAccess began in July 2021 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The objective of the meeting was to provide an overview of the progress made on the NHIA Digital tools and establish a national quality rating system.
The meeting included the presence of the Director General NHIA, Prof Nasir Sambo, General Manager NHIA SQA (State Quality Assessors), Dr. Yakubu Agada-Amade, PharmAccess Nigeria SafeCare Director, Dr. Ibironke Dada, SafeCare Program Director, Dr. Adetayo Adewoyin and members of the NHIA Management team. During the visit, the SafeCare team updated the NHIA Management team on the development and digitization of the NHIA quality tools.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Nasir Sambo, the Director General of NHIA, warmly welcomed the PharmAccess team and restated the purpose of the meeting. He emphasized the substantial progress made in their collaboration with PharmAccess Foundation. “This meeting symbolizes a leap forward in our joint efforts with PharmAccess Foundation. Our shared goal is to amplify our digitization initiatives for accreditation and quality assurance tools, while prioritizing capacity building to foster ongoing enhancements in quality. This partnership represents a pivotal milestone in our quest to revolutionize healthcare delivery in Nigeria.”
Similarly, Dr. Yakubu Agada-Amade, the General Manager of NHIA SQA (State Quality Assessors), provided a concise run-down on the progress of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing with PharmAccess since 2021.
Furthermore, Dr. Ibironke Dada, the SafeCare Director of PharmAccess Nigeria, expressed genuine appreciation for the enduring partnership with NHIA. She alluded to the cordial nature of their collaboration, attributing its achievements to forward-thinking leadership that has initiated transformative changes within the agency.
“Our collaboration with NHIA has been truly remarkable, thanks to the visionary leadership that has guided us towards transformative outcomes. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Director General and the entire NHIA team for their unwavering cooperation and steadfast support throughout the past two years”.
SafeCare Nigeria has successfully developed and redesigned 25 Quality Assessment Tools, comprising over 4,500 assessment criteria. These tools enable a comprehensive evaluation of healthcare facilities. They have been adapted for offline and online usage and are compatible with mobile devices, ensuring accessibility.
The visit of the SafeCare Nigeria team to the NHIA office provided a valuable opportunity to update the agency Management Team on the progress of the digital tools and gather their input. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, NHIA and PharmAccess aim to streamline and optimize the healthcare accreditation process, ensuring the delivery of quality healthcare services to all Nigerians.
PharmAccess Foundation is an international not-for-profit organization established in 2001 that operates in Africa, pioneering innovative approaches to strengthen the healthcare sector since 2001. Its goal is to improve access to quality healthcare, especially for low-income groups. ‘SafeCare’ is the quality arm of PharmAccess Foundation.
