PharmAccess mobilizes public and private resources for the benefit of doctors and patients through clinical standards and quality improvements, loans for healthcare providers, health insurance, mHealth innovations and operational research.
PharmAccess Nigeria partners with Nigeria Health Watch to host the 2019 Future of Health Quality Conference with the theme Time to Focus on Quality in Healthcare: Improving Outcomes. The aim of the conference was to develop strategies and goal-oriented conversations among health care professionals to foster improved access to quality and affordable healthcare.
The provision of quality health care is essential for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), as it provides improved health benefits and experience. On the 18th of October 2019, PharmAccess Nigeria partnered with Nigeria Health Watch to host the 2019 Future of Health Quality Conference with the theme Time to Focus on Quality in Healthcare: Improving Outcomes. The aim of the conference was to develop strategies and goal-oriented conversations among health care professionals to foster improved access to quality and affordable healthcare. The conference featured discussions on the development of national guidelines for measuring quality health care delivery in Nigeria.
The event also brought together relevant stakeholders from both the private and public sectors—to share experiences on how quality can be enhanced to improve Nigeria’s healthcare system. PharmAccess Nigeria hosted a Fireside Chat session, which included discussions on the PharmAccess SafeCare Methodology (with the theme SafeCare: Quality Improvement at Work.) According to the PharmAccess Nigeria Quality Director, Dr. Ibironke Dada, “SafeCare does capacity assessments to improve processes and procedures of health facilities”. PharmAccess Nigeria is already leveraging technology to develop automated processes to improve operational efficiency when it comes to issues of licensure and quality monitoring.
(L-R) Pharm. Ibrahim Baba Shehu Ahmed, Pharmacist Council of Nigeria. Dr. Abiola Idowu, ES, Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), Dr. Adedamola Dada Medical Director Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta, Lagos State Dr. Attahiru Bello, Adamawa State primary healthcare development agency, Dr. Ngozi Onyia, Medical Director, Paelon Memorial Hospital
During the Fireside chat, Dr. Abiola Idowu, Executive Secretary, Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), mentioned that, through the PharmAccess Nigeria SafeCare initiative, they have been able to create an online platform for the Agency to aid the processes and procedures of registration. According to Dr. Abiola, HEFAMAA has 3,399 private health facilities in its register, including 335 public health facilities. Also, during the session, Pharm. Ibrahim Baba Shehu Ahmed of the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria added that, through PharmAccess SafeCare, they have been able to enroll about 25,000 registered pharmacists. According to Ibrahim, SafeCare now sets a healthcare standard that facilities can enforce.
While delivering her presentation, titled SafeCare and Global Perspectives, Ms. Njide Ndili, Country Director of PharmAccess Foundation, added that achieving UHC is dependent on providing quality healthcare at the facility level. Other speakers at the fireside session included Dr. Adedamola Dada Medical Director Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta, Lagos State, Dr. Ngozi Onyia, Medical Director, Paelon Memorial Hospital and Dr. Attahiru Bello, Adamawa State primary healthcare development agency.
Going Forward, PharmAccess Nigeria will continue to expand and scale its SafeCare quality improvement methodology to support both private and public healthcare facilities offering primary, secondary and tertiary services in Nigeria.
