The Federal Government has certified a new batch of health sector procurement officers through the CIPS–HPA Nigeria qualification programme, in a bid to strengthen accountability and improve access to safe and affordable medicines.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Abuja, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, said the certification represents both competence and ethical standards.
“Your success means that the woman who requires basic health care and that child who needs essential drugs can be assured of standard prescriptions when they visit any health facility,” he told the graduates.
He added that the initiative would help tackle malpractice, including fake drugs, inflated contracts, and wrong prescriptions.
Dr. Adedokun also announced that procurement thresholds had been revised to reflect current economic realities, with new standard documents and sourcing strategies introduced for health procurement. He urged officers to register on the National Procurement Officers Management System, warning that those not listed would not be recognised as professionals.
CIPS Country Director, Chukwudi Uche, said the programme was already yielding results, with some states recording up to 50% savings on health product costs. “The implication is that more Nigerians can now access affordable, quality-assured medicines,” he noted.
CIPS Country Manager, Pharm. Omokhapue Joseph, said participants were drawn from federal and state agencies, including the Ministry of Health, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, and the BPP. Backed by the Gates Foundation, the initiative is designed to address longstanding weaknesses in health procurement by building capacity and strengthening supply chains.
Officials emphasised that the reforms will reduce waste, enhance transparency, and ensure coherence in health sector procurement nationwide.
