The Lagos State Government has announced plans to establish the Lagos State Essential Medicines Agency (LSEMA) to ensure seamless management and distribution of essential medicines within the state.
The establishment of LSEMA is 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.
Several benefits of the Essential Medicines Agency, include robust regulation of medicine flow, improved access to quality drugs, enhanced health planning data, and increased internal revenue generation through efficient drug sales.
LSEMA would also leverage productive partnerships with the private sector to enhance operational capacities. The agency will act as a regulator, ensuring close cooperation with national regulatory bodies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to maintain strict quality standards for all essential medicines distributed within the state.
Recognizing the value of collaboration, LSEMA will leverage Public-Private Partnerships to enhance operational capacities. This approach will combine public oversight with private sector efficiency and creativity, particularly in areas such as logistics and the day-to-day management of drug supplies.
Alongside, several key projects would also commence, including the new 150-bed Massey Children’s Specialist Hospital, the 280-bed Ojo General Hospital, the 500-bed Ketu-Ejinrin Mental Health Institute, the 120-bed Shomolu General Hospital, and the construction of four new Primary Healthcare Centers in Iworo, Ikaare, Idafa, and Agunfoye.
Lagos State has also concluded plans to commence a free medical outreach program tagged: “Alafia Eko”, targeting 25,000 residents across the six Lagos Health Districts, under Mr. Governor’s Eko Cares Programme to provide free, comprehensive medical check-ups to Lagos residents. Each district will have four units, aiming to serve about a thousand citizens per unit, totaling approximately 25,000 individuals across the six districts.
This service will be provided at no cost to the residents under the Eko Cares initiative, with the first phase of the outreach to begin on the 30th of May, followed by the second phase on the 6th of June.