NHIA, PharmAccess Foundation Unveil Digital Solutions To Enhance Healthcare In Nigeria 

In a bid to enhance healthcare delivery in Nigeria, PharmAccess Nigeria SafeCare in partnership with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has unveiled a digital solution that will streamline and optimize the healthcare accreditation process in the country.

Our Correspondent reports that NHIA and PharmAccess in July 2021 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to ensure quality healthcare services to Nigerians.

Speaking during a recent visit, Prof. Nasir Sambo, the Director General of NHIA, noted that there has been substantial progress made in their collaboration with PharmAccess Foundation.

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

Standards and Quality Assurance (SQA) Department, Dr. Yakubu Agada-Amade, PharmAccess Nigeria SafeCare Director, Dr. Ibironke Dada, SafeCare Program Director, Dr. Adetayo Adewoyin and key 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.

“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, whilev prioritizing capacity building to foster ongoing enhancements in quality. This partnership represents a pivotal milestone in our quest to revolutionize healthcare delivery in Nigeria, the DG said.

Similarly, Dr. Yakubu Agada-Amade, the General Manager of NHIA Standards and Quality Assurance (SQA) Department, provided a concise administrative run-down on the partnership 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, as we look forward to consolidating our support over the next years”.

SafeCare Nigeria has successfully redesigned and developed 25 Quality Assessment Tools, comprising over 4,500 assessment criteria. These tools enable a comprehensive evaluation of the functionality and readiness of healthcare facilities within the NHIA network. 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.