A total of N100 billion loan has been shared by the federal government to indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare investors to expand their capital base, boost local production of medicines and medical consumables.
This was disclosed by President Muhammadu Buhari when he received the new Executive Members of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
He said the loan was extended through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s support to the private pharmaceutical sector.
Buhari said the Health Sector Reform Committee chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, is currently exploring models for revitalizing the nation’s healthcare system.
On brain drain in the health sector, the president said he has directed the Minister of Health to look into ways of turning “brain drain” to “brain gain”.
This, he said, is by engaging top Nigerian medical experts in the diaspora in knowledge and skills repatriation.
He urged the association and other stakeholders in the health sector to support initiatives by the Federal Government.
In his remarks, the President of the NMA, Dr Uche Ojinmah, said the new National Officers Committee (NOC) was elected on May 21, 2022.
He commended the president for his steadfast war against corruption; assent to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act.
Ojinmah said the act would improve the health indices of the nation.