The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with PharmAccess Foundation to roll out SafeCare quality improvement programmes in federal tertiary hospitals across the country.
The agreement, sealed through the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee, was signed in Abuja with the aim of raising healthcare standards, strengthening workers’ capacity and transforming tertiary facilities into centres of excellence.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the standards committee, Prof. Philip Abiodun, described the partnership as a turning point in the drive to entrench quality in the nation’s tertiary health system.
He said the committee remained committed to enforcing minimum standards, inspecting and accrediting hospitals, and advising the government on financing, service delivery and training priorities.
Abiodun noted that the MoU would allow hospitals to undergo structured assessments, performance-based ranking and capacity building.
“The quality improvement framework we are putting in place will enable tertiary hospitals to undergo structured assessment, performance-based ranking, and capacity building. The data generated will guide resource allocation, training priorities, and investments to improve service delivery,” he said.
Delivering the keynote, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, represented by the Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr. Kamil Shoretire, stressed that quality healthcare remained central to the country’s development.
“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,” the minister stated.
On her part, PharmAccess Nigeria boss, Ndili, said the SafeCare standards had already been tried in 24 countries and piloted in three federal hospitals with positive results.
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.”
Also speaking, SafeCare Programme Director, Dr. Ibironke Dada, said hospitals supported by the model had recorded measurable improvements.
“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,” she explained.
Under the agreement, PharmAccess and the committee will conduct baseline assessments, provide technical support, train hospital quality teams and track performance through a digital platform.
