FG, PharmAcess Foundation unveil digital solutions to boost healthcare standards

The Federal Government through the National Health Insurance Authority and the PharmAccess Nigeria SafeCare team have developed digital solutions, leveraging cutting-edge technology to streamline and optimise healthcare accreditation process, ensuring the delivery of quality healthcare services to all Nigerians.

The partnership between NHIA and PharmAccess began in July 2021 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). 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 Foundation, in a statement, informed that it recently paid a visit to the NHIA in Abuja to to provide an overview of the progress made on the NHIA Digital tools and establish a national quality rating system.

In his opening remarks, Sambo, director general of NHIA emphasised the substantial progress made in their collaboration with PharmAccess Foundation, and the need to amplify the digitization initiatives for accreditation and quality assurance tools, while prioritising capacity building to foster ongoing enhancements in quality.

“This meeting symbolizes a leap forward in our joint efforts with PharmAccess Foundation. This partnership represents a pivotal milestone in our quest to revolutionize healthcare delivery in Nigeria,” he said.

Similarly, Yakubu Agada-Amade, general manager of NHIA SQA Department, provided a concise administrative run-down on the partnership with PharmAccess since 2021.

Ibironke Dada, 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,” Dada said.

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.

PharmAccess Foundation is an international not-for-profit organisation 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.