The Anambra State Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, Pharmacist Henry Iloh, has asserted that universal health coverage is the main priority of the World Health Organisation.
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Pharmacist Iloh made the statement in Awka, Anambra State, at the 33rd annual general conference of ACPN, Anambra chapter, themed: “Innovative strategies for expanding community pharmacy services in Anambra; a path to Universal Health Coverage.”
According to Iloh, “Universal health coverage is the in thing in WHOs goals to make sure that their healthcare is accessible to everyone including people that cannot afford it.Good enough, Anambra State has keyed in into this with formation of Anambra State health insurance agency which has taken the universal health coverage for Anambra residents to another level.
“Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, ASHIA, which is currently rated among the best in Nigeria, has done a great and and tremendous work. But the problem we have is that hitherto to now, the community pharmacists have not been brought in wholly into the ASHIA policy. So we are trying to design a framework to make sure that there is always a pharmacist input in the whole process because healthcare is a general thing, it’s all about the patient and every unit has something to contribute to the overall benefit of the patient.
“So, if the community pharmacist input in the overall health of the patient is ignored or neglected, definitely the patient looses in one way or the other and one cannot guarantee the quality, safety and source of some of those drugs and commodities that gets to the patient. So, that is why we trying to fashion a way forward so that there will be a community pharmacist input in the whole process and the overall well-being of the patient and by extension, all in release of the health insurance agency and Anambra residents in general.”
In his keynote address, the Managing Director of Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, ASHIA, Dr Simeon Onyemaechi, described Universal Health Coverage as a dream, journey and destination that requires involvement of major stakeholders in the health sector.
On the role of community pharmacists in the administration of ASHIA, Dr Onyemaechi said there are members engaged to provide ASHIA facilities with quality-assured medicines for enrolees, adding that to ensure that out-of-stock syndrome does not hamper ASHIA operations, the agency has linkages with some community pharmacists across the state where ASHIA enrolees can visit and get medications if the drugs are not in any of its facilities.
He said community pharmacists can collaborate with ASHIA for more impact through community outreach health programmes, as well as using their reach and services to get more people enrolled in the scheme by referring those having challenges in purchasing prescribed medications.
The National Chairman of the association, Pharmacist Adewale Oladigbolu was represented at the event by the National Financial Secretary of ACPN, Pharmacist Obiageli Ukwu, who appreciated Anambra State chapter for upholding the professional standards and prioritising the patients well being.
In his keynote speech at the 33rd annual conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, Anambra State chapter, Dr Onyemaechi described Universal Health Coverage as a dream, journey and destination that requires involvement of major stakeholders in the health sector.
He added that the health coverage, which ASHIA is helping to achieve in Anambra, is such that when everybody everywhere will have access to healthcare services that are of sufficient quality to be effective without suffering financial hardship.
On the role of community pharmacists in the administration of ASHIA, Dr Onyemaechi said there are members engaged to provide ASHIA facilities with quality-assured medicines for enrolees, adding that to ensure that out-of-stock syndrome doesn’t hamper ASHIA operations, the agency has linkages with some community pharmacists across the state where ASHIA enrolees can visit and get medications if the drugs are not in any of its facilities.
He said community pharmacists can collaborate with ASHIA for more impact through community outreach health programmes, as well as using their reach and services to get more people enrolled in the scheme by referring those having challenges in purchasing prescribed medications.
Onyemaechi added that the Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, instead of upward review of money for enrollment, has increased subsidy for the scheme to ensure that the programme continues.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion ,Pharmacist Ikem Odumodu, said that low budgetary allocation, limited knowledge at subnational level, high out-of-pocket expenditure, are challenges to health insurance policy, and called for strategic collaboration to address them.
Some participants at the event, including a one-time Chairman of the association in the state, Pharmacist Uche Akpakama, Secretary, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Anambra State chapter, Pharmacist Pharmacist Onyeka Obidiegwu, and a Fellow, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharmacist Ifeanyi Okeke, said integrating community pharmacists in providing services to ASHIA enrollees will boost operations of the agency.
