The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has charged health institutions to remain steadfast in ensuring quality healthcare for Nigerians. 

Dr. Salako made this known on Thursday during his familiarisation visit to agencies and parastatals under his ministry along with top management staff, including the Director of Hospital Services Department, Dr. Salaudeen Jimoh.

At the Nigeria Institute for Pharmaceutical & Research Development (NIPRD) Idu Industrial layout Abuja, the Minister led by the Director General, Dr. Obi Adigwe took an assessment tour of various departments of the institute. 

During a round table interactive meeting with the management staff, Dr. Salako stated that the institution is very pivotal to unlocking the health care value chain agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the country.

The minister admonished the Director General of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe and his team to consider business venture partnerships that will develop some of its products, with a possibility of assessing USD1bn on the table from the AFREXIM Bank.

He further buttressed this innovative proposition by assuring support of the Ministry towards projecting many of NIPRDs products on the table of physicians.

He stated that NIPRD is considered by the Ministry as a very important agency in its agenda of ensuring universal health coverage for Nigerians and, commitment to reversing the direction of medical tourism.

Dr. Salako urged the Director- General of the Nigerian Institute for Cancer Research & Treatment (NICRAT), Dr. Usman Malami Aliyu and his team to prioritise research around prevention, services around prevention and, advocacy around prevention as a key element of its agenda.