The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with PharmAccess Foundation to implement SafeCare quality improvement programmes across Nigeria’s federal tertiary hospitals.
According to a statement by PharmAccess on Tuesday, the agreement, sealed through the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee, aims to raise healthcare delivery standards, strengthen health worker capacity, and transform tertiary hospitals into centres of excellence, ultimately improving patient outcomes nationwide.
The signing ceremony in Abuja brought together senior government officials, regulatory leaders, and healthcare stakeholders.
Chairman of NTHISC, Prof. Philip Abiodun, hailed the collaboration as a pivotal step toward embedding quality as a national standard in tertiary health institutions.
“The quality improvement framework we are putting in place will enable tertiary hospitals to undergo structured assessment, performance-based ranking, and capacity building,” Abiodun said.
“The data generated will guide resource allocation, training priorities, and investments to improve service delivery. This MoU marks the beginning of a new phase in our journey toward significantly improved tertiary healthcare services that Nigerians can be proud of,” he added.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako, represented by Dr. Kamil Shoretire, Director, Department of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, stressed that quality healthcare was “the backbone of a thriving nation” and a critical driver of productivity.
“Our federal tertiary hospitals must transform into vibrant hubs of healing and hope. This partnership will ensure that patients not only receive excellent medical care but are treated with dignity and compassion. Together, we are building trust between patients and providers and securing a healthier future for generations to come,” Salako stated.
Country Director of PharmAccess Nigeria, Mrs. Njide Ndili, described the MoU as a milestone in Nigeria’s quest for health system strengthening.
She said, “Our SafeCare standards have been tried and tested in over 24 countries and implemented in more than 9,000 healthcare facilities globally.
“In Nigeria, they have already been piloted in three federal tertiary hospitals with promising results. This collaboration will allow us to scale this impact nationwide, institutionalising quality as a standard practice.”
The programme director of SafeCare, Dr. Ibironke Dada, also highlighted the measurable improvements seen in facilities already using the programme.
Dada said, “We have seen hospitals like FMC Ebute Metta move from lower SafeCare levels to higher ones, showing that systemic quality improvement is possible with strong leadership and commitment.
“Our phased 24-month approach will help tertiary hospitals build robust quality teams, digitise their processes, and achieve continuous improvement.”
Under the MoU, PharmAccess and NTHISC will conduct baseline assessments, provide technical support, train hospital quality teams, and monitor progress through a fully digitised platform that allows real-time visibility of hospital performance.
The initiative aligns with the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which seeks to save lives, reduce financial hardship, improve patient experience, and deliver equitable health outcomes across the country.
