Health
Why FG Set Up Committee To Develop Nigeria National Prescription Policy – Tunji Alausa
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The Federal Government set up the committee on Monday.
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Dr. Alausa said it was time to “cut down on quackery”.
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He also gave Terms of Reference to the committee.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, has stated the rationale behind the inauguration of the Committee for the Development of Nigeria National Prescription Policy.
He spoke ok Monday, June 3, 2024, when he inaugurated the committee on behalf of the Federal Government.
EDITOR’S PICKS
According to Dr. Alausa, it is high time Nigeria developed its medicine prescription policy to be in tune with global best practices.
The minister noted that National Prescription Policies are essential part of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) or healthcare for all.
“These policies aim to increase access to and use of high quality and affordable medicines and health products in every country,” he said.
“As we are all aware, Nigeria is vigorously aspiring towards the achievement of the SDG 3 with the view to enhancing maternal and child health, as well as improving generally on the overall health indices through unlocking of the healthcare value chain.
“Therefore, it has become necessary to develop a National Prescription Policy for the country.”
Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, addressing the inauguration of the Committee for the Development of the Nigeria National Prescription Policy
Dr. Alausa further stated that the Nigeria National Prescription Policy will provide the framework within which the relevant health care providers will operate to ensure rational prescribing and dispensing of medicines in the health care delivery system to address the above aspirations.
“Prescriptions will no longer be irrationally generated by unqualified health personnel and quacks; as the policy has designated those that should be involved in prescription generation as well as the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders of the healthcare delivery system,” he said.
“Henceforth prescriptions will be written on standard prescription forms in line with international best practices and will be accorded deserving values in the interest of the patient.
“The Nigeria National Prescription Policy when developed, will have the laudable vision of ensuring a healthy Nigerian population with access to safe and ethical medicines prescribed by duly qualified, registered and licensed medical and dental practitioners and dispensed by registered Pharmacists.”
Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare and members of the Committee for the Development of the Nigeria National Prescription Policy
FURTHER READING
Here are the policy committee’s Terms of Reference (ToR):
- To establish and evaluate present prescription system in Nigeria.
- Source for international systems and identify gaps/lapses in the Nigerian system vis-à-vis international systems.
- To categorize medicines into Prescription only Medicine (PoM), Pharmacy Initiated Medicines (PIM) and Over-the Counter (OTC) Medicines
- To come up with roles and responsibilities of stakeholders involve in medicines prescription.
- To come up with stricter penalties for violators of prescription laws.
- To develop Nigeria National Prescription Policy with its regulatory framework.
- Any other thing that can guide/assist the committee to come up with a standard medicine prescription policy.
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