Nett Pharmacy, one of the leading retail outlets in the country, which has been a regular nominee at the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards ceremony, has eventually bagged the Award for the Pharmaceutical Retail Outlet of the Year 2023.
The award is one of the categories presented at the just concluded glitzy 2023 NHEA ceremony, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, recently with several doctors, hospital administrators, pharmacists, owners of health management organisations (HMOs), captains of industry and stakeholders in the health sector in attendance.
Speaking at the occasion, described as the Oscar of the health sector, the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, noted that the awards ceremony is not only focused on celebrating excellence in various areas of medical practice but also designed as a platform to engender intellectual conversation on topical issues in healthcare delivery.
Mrs Sanwo-Olu, who was a guest of honour at the award dinner, said the state cannot shy away from discussing how to strengthen, intensify and sustain critical investment in the health system, as this is strategically important towards improving the health and well-being of all Nigerians, adding that our health system should be based on the principle of universality, equity and sustainability.
The Wife of the Governor, who was represented by Dr Cecilia Mabogunje, chief executive officer, Massey Street Children Hospital, Lagos, however, attributed the mass exodus of healthcare professionals from the country to the lack of adequate infrastructure and remuneration packages, adding that as a government, the Sanwo-Olu administration has been working to positively change the narrative with regard to scaling up investments in healthcare infrastructure and expanding access.
In his speech, the Chairman, the Advisory Board of NHEA Dr Anthony Omolola, applauded the contributions of all the nominees and winners to the development of the healthcare sector in the country, adding that over the years, NHEA has continued to strive to deliver new and creative ways to honour excellence across the healthcare space.
He stated that nominations opened in February 2023 and closed in May 2023 with over 20,000 nominations received in several categories, saying the entire process was keenly contested with healthy rivalry amongst several nominees, leading to optimal service delivery and improved service performance year in and year out.
On the significance of the award to the company, the Chief Executive Officer, Nett Pharmacy, Pharm. (Mrs) Josephine Ehimen said, “We are grateful for this recognition by NHEA and we also appreciate the clients that have trusted us immensely with their health needs through the years”.
She continued, “As a foremost retail pharmacy chain in the country, with a presence in about seven states of the federation, the award is a testament to the efforts we are steadily putting in to ensure the quality of products and services available at Nett Pharmacy is excellent and unmatched. It is also a reminder to uphold the standard of our patient care, quality products and professional services, which has been our watchword through the years, in ensuring our customers live well and better”.
Speaking on the organisation's resolve to keep providing top-quality products and services to consumers, she said; “The country’s health sector has experienced a lot of challenges, some of which are connected to the lapses in the pharmaceutical supply chain. These lapses tend to adversely affect the health outcomes of patients. We recognise the severity of these challenges, which is why we are working tirelessly to ensure that we only stock the best quality medications and skin care products in all our outlets.
Her words, “We hope to expand to more locations across the country as we believe everyone has a right to good quality medications and professional health services to protect their health and wellbeing”.
The ceremony saw three healthcare professionals who had distinguished themselves in various health fields presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards. The awardees are Pharm. (Dr) Michael Oyebanjo Paul, an astute businessman and pharmacist of great repute, a distinguished pharmaceutical professional and chairman, Mopson Pharmaceutical Limited; Dr Mathew Ame Idoko, a quintessential and committed paediatrician, a highly accomplished and experienced medical professional with a distinguished career spanning several decades, and Dr Adekunle Hassan, a visionary leader and pioneer in eyecare, and founder, chief medical director, Eye Foundation Hospital.
For this year’s ceremony, other Pharmaceutical Awards went to Alpha Pharmacy and Stores Limited, as Community Pharmacy of the Year, and Ecomed, as a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company of the Year.
