In a strategic move to strengthen healthcare delivery and medicine security, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 12 local pharmaceutical manufacturers and several Drug Management Organisations (DMOs) to produce 33 branded essential drugs under the NHIA logo.
This initiative is part of the NHIA Medicines Supply Initiative (NMSI) and is being executed in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
NHIA’s Director-General, Prof. Mohammed Nasir Sambo, explained that the initiative addresses the persistent “out-of-stock syndrome” in many public health facilities, while also enhancing confidence in drug quality.
The branded medicines, targeting conditions such as malaria, childhood infections, respiratory illnesses, and maternal health, will be distributed as part of the health insurance ecosystem in a first-phase rollout across seven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
Under the terms of the initiative, the cost of key medicines, including intravenous fluids, is expected to fall by as much as 50%, making them more affordable for enrollees.
NAFDAC will oversee certification, ensuring compliance with WHO-prequalified laboratory testing and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and will conduct post-marketing surveillance to prevent diversion of branded drugs to unauthorized retail outlets.
The branded drugs will carry an NHIA-approved logo for easy identification in healthcare facilities. The drive aligns with Federal Government Executive Order 3, which mandates procurement preference for local manufacturers to promote domestic capacity and ensure medicine availability
Nigeria’s NHIA‑led branded drugs initiative ensures affordability, quality assurance, and consistent availability for citizens across the country.
