0
••• Seeks Stronger Pharmacy Partnership For Essential Medicines Access Under ILERA EKO
Lagos – The Lagos State Government has launched a comprehensive review of its Drug Access Expansion (DAE) Programme in a renewed effort to tackle persistent complaints about medicine shortages.
The move is to improve access to quality essential pharmaceutical care for thousands of residents enrolled under the ILERA EKO health insurance scheme.
The review, which brought together healthcare providers, community pharmacists, regulators and development partners in Ikeja, underscores the state’s determination to ensure that enrollees receive prescribed medicines promptly, completely and without incurring additional out-of-pocket expenses.
At the centre of the discussions was a growing concern over the availability of essential medicines within the health insurance system, an issue that has repeatedly affected patient satisfaction and healthcare outcomes despite ongoing reforms aimed at expanding healthcare access across Lagos.
Speaking at the Drug Access Expansion Programme Review held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Alausa, Ikeja, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr Emmanuella Zamba, said the government remains committed to strengthening healthcare delivery and removing barriers that prevent residents from accessing prescribed treatments.
According to her, the Drug Access Expansion Programme was introduced in April 2024 following recurring complaints from enrollees who reported difficulties obtaining prescribed medicines at healthcare facilities. Many patients, she noted, experienced situations where drugs were either unavailable or dispensed incompletely, forcing them to seek alternatives or spend additional money outside the health insurance system.
“The programme was conceived as a strategic intervention to address these concerns and ensure that enrollees receive complete, timely and uninterrupted pharmaceutical care,” she said.
Dr Zamba explained that six months after the programme commenced, LASHMA commissioned an independent consultant to assess its effectiveness and obtain direct feedback from beneficiaries. The evaluation was complemented by internal reviews and customer satisfaction surveys designed to measure the programme’s impact on medicine availability and patient experience.
The findings, she said, have provided valuable insights that are now guiding efforts to redesign and strengthen the initiative.
She stressed that healthcare delivery extends beyond diagnosis and consultation, noting that access to prescribed medication remains one of the most critical components of effective treatment.
“When patients are unable to obtain the medicines prescribed for them, the quality of healthcare delivery is compromised. Our goal is to ensure that every enrollee can access covered drugs without stress, delays or additional financial burden,” she stated.
The Permanent Secretary further reaffirmed the state’s commitment to introducing innovative strategies that will improve healthcare outcomes and enhance patient satisfaction across Lagos.
She also highlighted Lagos State’s reputation as a national leader in healthcare innovation and social health insurance implementation, expressing confidence that lessons learned from the Drug Access Expansion Programme could provide a useful model for other states seeking to strengthen their healthcare systems.
A key focus of the review meeting was the role of community pharmacies and healthcare facilities, which government officials described as indispensable partners in the success of the programme.
Dr Zamba commended healthcare providers for their support, diligence and efficiency since the initiative was introduced, but urged them to deepen collaboration with the government to ensure the long-term sustainability of the state’s health insurance scheme.
She emphasised that community pharmacists occupy a strategic position within the healthcare ecosystem because of their direct interaction with patients and practical understanding of operational realities.
Calling for greater stakeholder participation, she urged pharmacy operators to contribute candid assessments and practical recommendations capable of transforming the programme into a more effective and user-friendly system.
“The observations, suggestions and recommendations arising from this review will be carefully considered and integrated into ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the programme,” she assured participants.
The review attracted support from key healthcare regulators and partners, many of whom described the initiative as an important step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Lagos State.
The Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Lagos Zonal Office, Pharm Ibrahim Ahmed, represented by Director Pharm Dr Taiwo Filusi, commended LASHMA for its commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare services and improving medicine availability for health insurance beneficiaries.
He praised the integration of community pharmacies into the ILERA EKO healthcare delivery framework, describing it as a significant innovation capable of enhancing accessibility, convenience and efficiency in pharmaceutical services across the state.
According to him, the review meeting provided stakeholders with an opportunity to evaluate achievements, identify operational challenges and develop practical solutions that will strengthen implementation and sustainability.
He reiterated the Council’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote quality pharmaceutical practice, regulatory compliance, patient safety and the delivery of safe and effective medicines.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), Dr Victoria Egunjobi, applauded the continued efforts to incorporate community pharmacies into the social health insurance scheme.
She observed that strategic partnerships and collaboration among stakeholders remain essential to improving healthcare access and ensuring that residents receive safe medications and quality healthcare services.
Describing the review meeting as a valuable platform for collective reflection and problem-solving, Dr Egunjobi expressed optimism that sustained collaboration would further improve healthcare outcomes and strengthen public confidence in the state’s health insurance programme.
Development partners also pledged continued support for Lagos State’s healthcare reform agenda.
Speaking on behalf of the sponsors of the review meeting, the Regional Manager, South-West, Society for Family Health (SFH), Mrs Jennifer Ladokun, commended LASHMA for expanding access to affordable healthcare services and deepening health insurance coverage through strategic partnerships.
She reaffirmed the commitment of the Society for Family Health and the ACIOE Foundation to supporting initiatives that promote equitable access to healthcare, noting that stronger collaboration among government institutions, healthcare providers and development partners remains critical to achieving improved health outcomes.
For many residents enrolled in the ILERA EKO scheme, the outcome of the review could prove pivotal. As Lagos continues its pursuit of Universal Health Coverage, stakeholders believe that guaranteeing uninterrupted access to essential medicines may be one of the most decisive factors in determining whether health insurance translates into real and meaningful healthcare for ordinary citizens.
The review therefore signals more than an administrative exercise; it represents a concerted effort to address one of the most pressing concerns facing health insurance beneficiaries and to ensure that access to healthcare does not end at the consulting room, but extends to the medicines needed for recovery and improved quality of life.
