“People from UK, US Now Come to Nigeria for Quality Healthcare” – Health Minister

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the ratification of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) treaty, marking a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare regulatory system. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, announced the decision while briefing State House correspondents after FEC’s second meeting of the year.

The treaty, initiated by the African Union Heads of State and Government at their 32nd meeting in Addis Ababa in 2019, aims to enhance regulatory capacity for medical products across member states. So far, 37 AU member states have signed the treaty, with 26 ratifying it. With this approval, Nigeria is set to take necessary steps to implement the agreement.

Pate emphasized that the treaty would facilitate access to safe, high-quality medical products and promote a unified regulatory framework across Africa. He highlighted that expanding regulatory capacity would boost Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry by creating a broader market for locally manufactured products while enabling trade with other African nations.

In addition to the treaty ratification, FEC approved six contracts for major diagnostic equipment in key medical institutions. These include three Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines and two CT scanners for hospitals such as the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in Akwa Ibom, the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile Ife, the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital in Yola, and the Federal Teaching Hospital in Kebbi.

Pate noted that Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure is steadily improving, with investments aimed at modernizing the sector. He revealed that an increasing number of patients from within Africa, as well as countries like the United Kingdom and the United States, are seeking medical care in Nigeria.

“You can see that gradually, piece by piece, we have been building our health infrastructure, but also at a higher level in the teaching hospitals,” he said. “People are now beginning to come to Nigeria from the region to receive quality healthcare. This is already happening, including people from faraway places like the United Kingdom and United States.”

Pate added that positive changes were taking shape in Nigeria’s healthcare system. “The transformation that the president promised is beginning to happen. We need to sustain it, and we’re investing, and we will continue to invest in that direction.”