The Central Bank of Nigeria said it has disbursed N135.56bn to the health sector.
The amount, it added, was the cumulative disbursement for 135 projects in the sector.
The apex bank, in a communiqué released at the end of its Monetary Policy Committee meeting held in Abuja, disclosed that the 135 projects comprised pharmaceuticals (33), hospitals (60), and other services (42).
“In support of the resilience of the healthcare sector, the Bank also disbursed N5.02bn to four healthcare projects under the Healthcare Sector Intervention Facility, bringing the cumulative disbursement to N135.56bn for 135 projects in pharmaceuticals (33), hospitals (60), and other services (42),” the communiqué read in part.
The health sector has been badly hit by brain drain, inadequate equipment, the incremental cost of production, and government policies that could affect pharmaceutical manufacturers in the country.
The Nigerian Medical Association recently said Nigeria was battling with its worst situation in history, as no fewer than 10,296 Nigeria-trained doctors were currently practising in the United Kingdom.
Similarly, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria had told our correspondent that drugs would be out of reach of Nigerians if urgent action was not taken to address the increasing inflation rate in the country.
The Executive Secretary of PMGMAN, Frank Muonemeh, said “The industry is taking excruciating pain to absorb the incremental cost of production, especially when you look at the smart investments at stake. If you transfer the high cost of production to the patients, they will not buy drugs again and they will continue drinking alternative local herbs, which will lead to a decrease in access to medicine for Nigerians as out-of-pocket expenses are still at a very high percentage.”
