Guardian Nigeria
β’ 25,000 people to benefit from free medical outreach
β’ State recovers N32 million from Discos
Lagos State Government has announced plans to establish the Lagos State Essential Medicines Agency (LSEMA) to ensure seamless management and distribution of essential medicines across the state.
The stateβs Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this during the Ministry of Health’s 2024 media briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
He said that the establishment of LSEMA represents a pivotal initiative aimed at transforming the management and distribution of essential medicines in line with the Federal Government’s mandate for every state to set up a drug management agency.
Abayomi highlighted several benefits of the agency including robust regulation of medicine flow, improved access to quality drugs, enhanced health planning data, and increased internal revenue generation through efficient drug sales
He also said that the application of economies of scale during bulk purchases would help to maintain stable prices for essential medicines regardless of economic fluctuations.
The commissioner, who emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships, said that LSEMA would leverage productive partnerships with the private sector to enhance operational capacities.
According to him, the agency will act as a regulator, ensuring close cooperation with bodies, such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to maintain quality standards for all essential medicines.
He said that the agency would explore innovative financing models, including private sector investments, adding that the financial structure is designed to ensure the agency is self-sustaining with revenues generated through the sale of medicines.
In her remarks, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, disclosed that the state had concluded plans to commence a free medical outreach programme tagged, βAlafia Eko,β targeting 25,000 residents across the six Lagos health districts.
Meanwhile, the state government has said that it recovered N32.8 million for electricity consumers from electricity distribution companies in the last one year.
Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade & Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, disclosed this during the ongoing media briefing to mark the first year of the second term of Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration.
According to her, Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) recovered β¦31.17 million as credit adjustment for electricity consumers from Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) and β¦1.74 million from Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC).
The commissioner also said: “As part of efforts to seek redress and get justice for consumers, LASCOPA recovered β¦51.9 million as payment refund or outright compensation for returned substandard goods, products and services.”
