Ondo govt moves to end drug shortages, boost local pharmaceutical production
By Julius Alabi, Akure
The Ondo State Government has unveiled a new healthcare reform agenda aimed at achieving greater self-sufficiency in medicines, strengthening local pharmaceutical production and improving diagnostic and clinical services across the state.
The initiative, which also seeks to deepen private-sector participation in healthcare delivery, includes the establishment of an Ondo State Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Hub, improved medicines distribution and the deployment of critical diagnostic equipment in health facilities.
The Senior Consultant on Pharmaceutical and Medical Investments to the state government, Dr. Samuel Adekola, disclosed this yesterday during a familiarisation visit to the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), Ondo.
Adekola said the reforms were designed to reposition the state’s health sector for greater efficiency, innovation and sustainability through stronger institutional collaboration and strategic investments.
He disclosed that Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa had approved the establishment of the Ondo State Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Hub, describing it as a strategic intervention that would strengthen the state’s health and economic security.
According to him, the hub is expected to secure the state’s medicines supply chain, promote local pharmaceutical manufacturing, stimulate biotechnology research and position Ondo as a regional centre for health innovation.
He said the initiative would reduce dependence on external sources for essential medicines while creating opportunities for investment, research and job creation within the state.
Adekola also disclosed that Aiyedatiwa had approved the procurement of critical diagnostic equipment for healthcare facilities, stressing that improved diagnostic capacity remained essential to early disease detection, sound clinical decision-making and better patient outcomes.
He identified UNIMEDTH as a critical institution in the implementation of the reforms, citing its clinical expertise, research capacity and operational experience.
The consultant called for closer collaboration between the teaching hospital and the Ondo State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency (OSDHCMA), describing the agency as the backbone of the state’s medicines security architecture.
He said effective collaboration between both institutions would help eliminate drug stockouts, prevent the circulation of substandard medicines and promote transparency in the procurement and distribution of health commodities.
“For us to eliminate stockouts, prevent circulation of substandard medicines, and maintain a transparent supply chain, UNIMEDTH must be fully aligned with the Agency’s systems and processes,” Adekola said.
He disclosed that OSDHCMA was being repositioned to become a State Drugs and Health Commodities Distribution Centre, with the capacity to supply both public and private healthcare institutions within and outside Ondo State.
Adekola said comprehensive operational guidelines for the new structure were being developed, adding that the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka, had given his concurrence for stakeholders across the sector, including UNIMEDTH, to participate in developing the document.
The consultant also announced the introduction of an evidence-based nutrition model for in-patient care across the state, saying the initiative would treat nutrition as an integral part of medical intervention rather than a routine hospital service.
Adekola said the approach was expected to improve treatment outcomes, reduce complications and shorten hospital stays.
He disclosed that UNIMEDTH would play a leading role in implementing and refining the model, while the state government would partner the West Africa Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) to drive the initiative.
On private-sector participation, Adekola urged the management of UNIMEDTH to conduct a structured assessment of areas where Public-Private Partnerships could be deployed to improve service delivery.
He identified diagnostic services, medical imaging, specialised clinics, digital health infrastructure and biomedical engineering as some of the areas that could benefit from private investment.
Adekola said the administration of Governor Aiyedatiwa had demonstrated the political will and strategic commitment required to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
He added that Ondo was entering a new phase in healthcare development, characterised by strategic reforms, stronger institutional partnerships and clear performance expectations.
Responding, the Chief Medical Director of UNIMEDTH, Prof. Michael Gbala, commended the state government for its efforts to transform the institution and the broader health sector over the past three years.
Gbala said the improvements in the state’s health system were evident, particularly in the return and availability of medical professionals.
He therefore called for sustained improvement in the supply and management of medicines to ensure that patients had access to essential and lifesaving drugs when needed.
