The Federal Executive Council FEC, has approved six contracts worth N12 billion for diagnostic equipments, three MRI equipment and two CT scan equipment as well as ancillary equipment and infrastructure in some Federal Medical Centres and teaching hospitals across the country.
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The approval which was sequel to a memo presented to the Council by Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, is to expand the infrastructure in the country’s tertiary health facilities.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, made the decision known on Tuesday after the Federal executive council meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
The Minister underscored the administration’s commitment to improving health infrastructure in the country assuring that it is yielding fruits following the reduction of medical tourism with patients visiting from America and United Kingdom to seek health care in Nigeria.
He stressed that the administration’s commitment to expanding healthcare access and advancing Nigeria’s role in the continental health regulatory space.
Pate said the approved N12 billion will fund the procurement of major diagnostic equipment, including three MRI machines and two CT scanners, across key tertiary institutions.
He listed the institutions to include, “University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom,Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Federal Medical Center, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola, Adamawa State and Federal Teaching Hospital, Kebbi State.
Pate highlighted that the contracts also cover broader infrastructure upgrades to support medical education and patient care.
“Gradually, piece by piece, we are building our health infrastructure.”
He added that improved facilities have begun to attract patients from neighboring countries, the UK, and the US.
Pate also disclosed that the council ratified the African Medicines Agency (AMA) treaty.
“the treaty marks a key step toward integrating its medical products into the broader African market.
Initially adopted by the African Union in 2019, the treaty aims to harmonize regulatory standards and boost access to safe, quality medicines across the continent.
“With this treaty, what we produce as part of our value chain expansion will have access to a much wider market,” Pate said.
“This means what is made in Nigeria will, over time, be made in Africa.”
The Minister lauded President Tinubu’s leadership, calling the treaty’s ratification a “major milestone” in the nation’s journey toward medical self-sufficiency and industrialization.
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