By Dele Anofi,The Nation

Copyright thenationonlineng

The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring Nigerians have access to quality healthcare services, stressing that its resolve to standardize and strengthen care across federal tertiary hospitals remains firm.

Underscoring this commitment, the government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social welfare entered into a collaboration with PharmaAccess, formalized the process in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Abuja over the weekend.

The partnership will drive the rollout of the SafeCare quality improvement program, aimed at elevating healthcare delivery, enhancing workforce capacity, and transforming teaching hospitals into centres of excellence.

The initiative will be implemented through the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee, a body mandated to set and enforce minimum standards for tertiary healthcare.

It is expected to significantly improve patient outcomes while aligning with the Federal Government’s Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), which seeks to save lives, reduce financial hardship, and deliver equitable health outcomes nationwide.

The signing ceremony brought together key stakeholders in the health sector, including Prof. Fatima Kyari, Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria; Prof. Rufai Yusuf Ahmad, Registrar of the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Registration Board of Nigeria; Mrs. Njide Ndili, Country Director of PharmAccess Nigeria; Dr. Ibironke Dada, Program Director, SafeCare; and Prof. Emem Bassey, Chairman of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako underscored the centrality of quality to healthcare reform, saying the Federal Government was determined to ensure that tertiary hospitals go beyond infrastructure to deliver care that meets global standards of safety, efficiency, and patient-centredness.

“Our Federal tertiary hospitals must transform into vibrant hubs of healing and hope. This partnership will ensure that patients not only receive excellent medical care but are treated with dignity and compassion.

“Together, we are building trust between patients and providers and securing a healthier future for generations to come.”

Represented by Dr. Kamil Shoretire, Director, Department of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, the Minister explained that the agreement with PharmAccess would help embed SafeCare’s internationally accredited standards across the system, allowing hospitals to undergo structured assessments, implement stepwise improvements, and track progress in real time through digitized platforms.

Njide Ndili, Country Director of PharmAccess Nigeria, who described the agreement as a milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s health system, highlighted SafeCare’s global track record, noting that the program has been deployed in over 24 countries and more than 9,000 facilities.

“In Nigeria, SafeCare has already been piloted in three federal tertiary hospitals with promising results. This collaboration will allow us to scale this impact nationwide, institutionalizing quality as a standard practice.

“With this new partnership, Nigerian tertiary hospitals will not only undergo standardization of quality but also gain access to the tools, data, and support necessary to transform into centres of excellence,” she said.

On his part, Prof. Philip Abiodun, Chairman of the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee, emphasized that the partnership aligns with the committee’s constitutional role of inspection, accreditation, and advisory functions.

He said the collaboration would enable hospitals to improve care in a structured manner.

“The quality improvement framework we are putting in place will enable tertiary hospitals to undergo structured assessment, performance-based ranking, and capacity building.

“The data generated will guide resource allocation, training priorities, and investments to improve service delivery. This agreement marks the beginning of a new phase in our journey toward significantly improved tertiary healthcare services that Nigerians can be proud of,” he explained.

Read Also: FG, HFN, PharmAccess explore healthcare transformation strategies

Dr. Ibironke Dada, SafeCare Program Director, highlighted the measurable outcomes of the program, citing the example of Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, which has recorded significant improvements in its SafeCare rating.

“We have seen hospitals like FMC Ebute Metta move from lower SafeCare levels to higher ones, showing that systemic quality improvement is possible with strong leadership and commitment.

“Our phased 24-month approach will help tertiary hospitals build robust quality teams, digitize their processes, and achieve continuous improvement,” she stressed.

According to her, the program will begin with baseline assessments in federal teaching hospitals, followed by targeted training and the establishment of hospital quality teams.

Using a fully digitized monitoring system, progress will be tracked in real time, providing transparency and accountability,” she noted.