In what has been described as brazen impunity and unending aberrations of some policy makers in the implementation of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) says it is heading to the Federal High Court, Abuja, to seek redress in correcting the instituted anomalies in the system, which has hitherto permitted non-pharmacists and non-registered facilities to be dispensing ethical drugs under the health insurance scheme.
The society is also challenging what it termed oppressive payment system of the NHIA which deliberately disburses funds meant for fee for services rendered by pharmacists and laboratory scientists to physicians, a development that negates the lawful provision of the NHIA Act, which stipulates the recognition of only four payment mechanisms to physicians, pharmacists, per diem and case payment.
The Chairman, Lagos State PSN, Pharm. Babayemi Oyekunle, said after 15 dialogue sessions with the NHIA management over the issues without any meaningful adjustments, the society has no option than to institute a legal action against the NHIA team, as a means of resolving the prolonged imbroglio, to restore sanity to the system.
Oyekunle made this remarks at the 24th Scientific Week of the State Branch, held on Thursday 29 August, at the Providence Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
He said, “Fundamentally, we have gotten to a point where we must determine where drugs used in the NHIA are dispensed from (are they registered pharmacy facilities?) and who are the persons who dispensed the over N1 trillion worth of drugs paid for by the Federal Government since 2006 (are they Registered Pharmacists?)
“I therefore confirm to you that our Attorneys will join other stakeholders in the process of instituting a legal process against the NHIA and other related government apparatus to compel a redress in the unwholesome mess that continues to epitomize managed care and Social Health Insurance programmes in Nigeria at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“The lawful provision of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Act (Now NHIA Act) that still subsists is that the Scheme/Authority recognises only four payment mechanisms which are: Capitation for primary providers (Physicians); Fee for service for secondary providers (Pharmacists, Consultants);Per diem and Case payment.”
Oyekunle also queried the recent practices in some states platforms charged with implementing of Social Health Insurance, where they have actually attempted to officially inculcate patent medicine dealers who are not trained to dispense drugs and who are meant to stock only OTC medicaments into the Insurance programmes, the provisions of the law notwithstanding.
He noted this and other Illegal operations under the umbrella of NHIA implementation justify the intended legal action of the group.
The number one pharmacist in Lagos also made a passionate plea to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was ably represented at the occasion by LASHMA CEO, Dr Emmanuella Samba, to revisit the Pharmacist Consultant Cadre approval which is long over, as it is already implemented in Federal health institutions, making Lagos State the black sheep in the comity of southwest states where the cadre is not in operation,
He further called the attention of the governor to other unfulfilled agreements of the state government with pharmacists after 15 months of deliberations, urging him to pay up the arrears as a means of boosting the morale of the health workers.
“The Consultant Pharmacist cadre has become fully operational now at Federal level with the creation of the necessary elements on the IPPIS payment platform for Consultant Pharmacists. With this development, over 250 Consultant Pharmacists have been appointed in the last few weeks in the Federal Health Institutions with University College Hospital, Ibadan leading the way with the appointment of over 30 Consultant Pharmacists
“It is also noteworthy that all other six southwest states have finalized the implementation of the Consultant Pharmacists Cadre with Lagos State embarrassingly as the ONLY state where prevarications still prevails”, he emphasised.
Meanwhile, all efforts to reach the Director General of NHIA, Dr Kelechin Ohiri, proved abortive at press time, as the two official mobile lines displayed on NHIA website were not responsive.
Delivering the keynote speech at the event, titled “Achieving Universal Health Coverage: The Pharmacists Perspectives”, Pharm, (Dr) Adekunle Tometi, president elect, NAPPSA, outlined ten major roles of pharmacists in actualising UHC, while emphasising the need for government to drive collaboration among stakeholders in making healthcare accessible and affordable for all.
The ten roles of pharmacists in UHC, according to him, were: accessible medication, comprehensive coverage prescription, integrated care, education & counselling, preventive health, cost effectiveness, policy advocacy, pharmacy workforce development, technology integration, and patient centred care.
He also stressed the essence of relevant modifications in Pharmacy curriculum in the universities, which will enhance the connection of students with the practical world of Pharmacy .
