By our Reporter
The Ondo State Government has unveiled a fresh healthcare reform agenda aimed at strengthening medicines security, boosting local pharmaceutical production, improving diagnostic capacity, promoting clinical nutrition and expanding private-sector participation in the health sector.
The Senior Consultant on Pharmaceutical and Medical Investments to the state government, Dr. Samuel Adekola, disclosed this 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 partnerships.
He disclosed that Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa had approved the establishment of the Ondo State Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Hub, which he said would strengthen the state’s medicines supply chain, promote local pharmaceutical manufacturing, stimulate biotechnology research and position Ondo as a regional hub for health innovation.
According to him, the initiative represents a deliberate investment in both the state’s health and economic security.
Adekola also disclosed that Governor Aiyedatiwa had approved the procurement of critical diagnostic equipment for healthcare facilities across the state.
He said the equipment would enhance diagnostic capacity, facilitate early detection of diseases, support clinical decision-making and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
The consultant identified UNIMEDTH as a critical institution in the implementation of the reforms, citing its clinical expertise, research capacity and operational experience.
He stressed the need for closer collaboration between the teaching hospital and the Ondo State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency (OSDHCMA), which he described as the backbone of the state’s medicines security architecture.
According to him, OSDHCMA is responsible for ensuring quality, affordability and accountability in the procurement and distribution of drugs and other 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,” he said.
Adekola disclosed that the agency would soon transition into a State Drugs and Health Commodities Distribution Centre, with a mandate to provide services to public and private health institutions within and outside Ondo State.
He said comprehensive operational guidelines for the new framework were being developed, adding that the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka, had given his approval for stakeholders, including UNIMEDTH, to participate in developing the document.
The consultant also announced the introduction of a new evidence-based nutrition model for in-patient care across the state.
He explained that the model, based on global best practices, would treat nutrition as a clinical intervention rather than merely a routine hospital service.
Under the model, patients would receive meals tailored to their medical conditions, metabolic requirements and recovery pathways, which he said would improve treatment outcomes, reduce complications and potentially shorten hospital stays.
He said UNIMEDTH was expected to lead the implementation and refinement of the initiative, while the state government would collaborate with the West Africa Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN).
Adekola further urged the Chief Medical Director and management of UNIMEDTH to conduct a structured assessment of areas where Public-Private Partnership (PPP) investments could be deployed.
He identified diagnostic services, medical imaging, specialised clinics, digital health infrastructure and biomedical engineering as some of the areas with potential for private-sector investment.
He said Governor Aiyedatiwa had demonstrated political will and strategic commitment to strengthening the state’s healthcare system, adding that Ondo was entering a new phase characterised by strategic reforms, stronger partnerships and clear performance expectations.
Responding, the Chief Medical Director of UNIMEDTH, Prof. Michael Gbala, commended the state government for its efforts to improve the hospital and the wider health sector over the past three years.
Gbala said the changes in the health system were noticeable, particularly in the return and availability of medical professionals.
He, however, called for improved drug supply and better management of medicines to ensure that patients could access essential and lifesaving drugs when needed.
The CMD stressed the importance of maintaining adequate stocks of scarce but critical medicines, noting that some drugs might not be frequently needed but could become indispensable during emergencies.
He specifically cited anti-venom as an example, saying health facilities must have it readily available because a snakebite victim could not afford to wait while the drug was sourced.
Gbala therefore called for the identification of critical medicines and stronger collaboration among health facilities to ensure that such drugs remained readily accessible whenever emergencies arise.
