FG APPROVES MEDIPOOL TO LOWER DRUG PRICES, AWARDS N2.3BN CARDIAC MACHINE CONTRACT IN SOKOTO 12-05-25
By Sadiq Aminu The Federal Executive Council, FEC, has approved the launch of a centralised drug procurement platform called Medipool, aimed at cutting the cost of pharmaceuticals.
FEC also approved the purchase of a state-of-the-art cardiac catheterisation machine for the Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) in Sokoto.
Briefing State House correspondents on the approvals, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said Medipool was designed to aggregate demand from basic healthcare facilities and federal tertiary hospitals, thus allowing the government to buy in bulk and use its purchasing power to reduce prices.
“In line with the President’s direction for Nigerians to have lower-cost drugs and better access to essential medicines, the Council has approved the establishment of Medipool.
“It is a group purchasing organisation that would harness the federal government’s buying power to negotiate competitive prices and distribute quality healthcare products across Nigeria”, the Minister said.
He explained that Medipool was a public-private partnership vehicle vetted by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.
Professor Pate said it was benchmarked against similar models in countries like Kenya, South Africa, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia, emphasising that the administration’s goal is to support local manufacturing and promote import substitution while ensuring that Nigerians have access to high-quality, affordable medicines.
On the procurement and installation of a cardiac catheterisation machine for UDUTH in Sokoto at a cost of 2.3 billion Naira, the Minister said the advanced medical equipment would enable the teaching hospital to diagnose and treat complex heart and blood vessel conditions, including heart attacks and arrhythmias.
“This is a major boost for Sokoto State and the entire North-West, as it would not only improve access to life-saving cardiac care, but also help reduce outbound medical tourism”, Professor Pate notied.
He stressed that Nigerians would now be able to receive advanced cardiac treatment at home, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s healthcare system.