The Federal Ministry of Health yesterday witnessed the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding between the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee (NTHIS) and PharmAccess Foundation, Society for Quality in Healthcare in Nigeria (SQHN) to strengthen standards and improve service delivery in federal tertiary hospitals in the country.
NTHISC is a federal government body established by the National Health Act 2014 to ensure high standards and compliance in the nation’s tertiary health institutions.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Abuja, the minister of state for health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, described the partnership as a “new dawn” for Nigeria’s healthcare system, stressing that quality healthcare is the backbone of national development.
He said, “Our federal tertiary hospitals must transform into vibrant hubs of healing and hope, where patients not only receive excellent medical care but are treated with dignity and compassion.”
Represented by the director, health planning, research and statistics, Dr. Kamil Shoretire, the minister said the MoUs were in line with the mandate of the National Health Act 2014 which empowers the NTHISC to set and enforce standards in tertiary hospitals nationwide.
Salako added that PharmAccess and SQHN bring international expertise recognised by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua) which would be combined with local knowledge to drive sustainable reforms.
Chairman of the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee (NTHISC), Prof. Abiodun Philip, noted that the collaboration would enable periodic assessments of tertiary hospitals, leading to a performance-based ranking system that would reveal the comparative quality of services across facilities.
He said the initiative would not only improve healthcare delivery but also help reverse medical tourism by ensuring Nigerians can access world-class services within the country.
“The task of quality improvement in our tertiary healthcare institutions is enormous, but we remain courageously resolute. With these partnerships, we are confident of achieving enviable results that will strengthen our health system,” he said.
He further disclosed that NTHISC was also pursuing collaborations with international partners to establish a national organ donation and transplantation registry, introduce robotic surgery, and expand oncology services in Nigeria.
Both PharmAccess and SQHN pledged their commitment to supporting Nigeria in building a more resilient and patient-centered health system.
The ceremony was attended by senior officials of the Ministry, directors of hospital services, and representatives of partner organisations
