The Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday approved about N10.299 billion for the procurement of diagnostic kits for diabetes, antiretroviral drugs for resistant HIV/AIDS patients, antibiotics, antihypertensives, and antidiabetic medications.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the end of the Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The FEC meeting was the second within the week.
The Minister said that the government’s intervention in the health sector was in line with the administration’s aspiration to ensure that Nigerians get access to quality and affordable health services.
He explained that out of the total sum, N997 million was earmarked for the procurement of antiretroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS patients who are resistant to treatment, N2 billion for diagnostic kits for diabetes, and N4.5 billion for the procurement of medical commodities such as antibiotics, antihypertensives, and antidiabetic medications.
The sum also includes N2.1 billion for the procurement of a mobile X-ray machine for the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi, as well as the rehabilitation and equipping of the hospital with a computerized tomography (CT) scanner and 64-slice CT scan.
His words: “Today (Wednesday), two memos related to the health and social welfare sector were presented, in line with the President’s aspiration to ensure that Nigerians get access to quality health services that they can afford, and for which we are making steady progress.
“FEC approved a contract of N10.299 billion for various products aimed at enhancing the accessibility and affordability of health commodities and health services for Nigerians.
“The first category was the third-line antiretroviral drugs. A few weeks ago, we approved the first-line antiretroviral drugs.
“Now, second- and third-line drugs are being procured for those who are resistant to treatment. Nigeria is putting forth resources, almost N997 million worth of contracts, to procure the third-line antiretroviral drugs for those who are HIV-infected.”
