The Lagos Chapter of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has voiced strong criticism of the current payment structure under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), calling for the adoption of the Lagos State Health Insurance Management Agency (LASHIMA) model. This call was made during a press conference on Tuesday as part of the 2024 Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Scientific Week.
Pharm. Tolu Ajayi, Chairman of ACPN Lagos, argued that the NHIA’s payment system is overly complicated, hindering the progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria. He highlighted the need for a simplified system that mirrors the LASHIMA model, where fees for professional services are separated from capitation payments for primary care services.
Ajayi emphasized that direct payments to community pharmacists, as practiced in Lagos, enhance transparency and accountability, which are vital for the scheme’s sustainability. He advocated for this payment model to be implemented nationwide to eliminate delays and ensure pharmacists receive timely payments for their services.
“The fees for services rendered by pharmacists should be paid directly to them,” Ajayi stated. “When payments are routed through Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), it leaves pharmacists at the mercy of HMOs, who may delay payments, demoralizing service providers and disrupting their operations.”
In addition to payment system reforms, Ajayi called for an improved drug distribution system across Nigeria. He urged state governors to replicate the Coordinated Wholesale Centre model, first established in Kano, to combat the distribution of counterfeit drugs. He stressed that collaboration between governors, practitioners, investors, and regulators is essential to ensuring high-quality medications within the patient care value chain.
Ajayi also highlighted the importance of strong relationships between professional bodies and the government, stating that pharmacists would continue to voice their concerns when policies do not align with the best interests of the healthcare system.
Pharm. Anthony Bola Oyawole, a former presidential aspirant of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the critical role of community pharmacists. He noted that community pharmacies were crucial in providing essential medications during the COVID-19 pandemic, even when the nation was on lockdown.
The ACPN Day of the PSN Scientific Week featured free health screenings, preventive health talks, free drug samples, health insurance updates, and a lecture on the importance of vaccination. These activities took place simultaneously at seven locations across Lagos State, including markets in Ikorodu, Ajah, Iyana Ipaja, Ikeja, Yaba, Iba, and Badagry.
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