The Ondo State Government has unveiled a comprehensive healthcare reform agenda aimed at strengthening medicine security, expanding local pharmaceutical production, improving diagnostic services, enhancing clinical nutrition, and attracting greater private-sector investment into the health sector.
The Senior Consultant on Pharmaceutical and Medical Investments to the state government, Dr. Samuel Adekola, disclosed this during a familiarisation visit to the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), Ondo.
Adekola revealed that Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has approved the establishment of the Ondo State Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Hub, a strategic initiative designed to secure the state’s medicine supply chain, promote local pharmaceutical manufacturing, encourage biotechnology research, and position Ondo as a leading centre for health innovation in the region.
He described the hub as a deliberate investment in both the state’s healthcare system and economic development, noting that it would help drive self-sufficiency in medicine production and distribution.
The consultant also announced the governor’s approval for the procurement of critical diagnostic equipment for healthcare facilities across the state. According to him, the investment will strengthen diagnostic capacity, support early disease detection, improve clinical decision-making, and enhance patient outcomes.
Adekola identified UNIMEDTH as a key institution in the implementation of the reforms, citing its expertise in clinical care, research, and medical training.
He stressed the need for closer collaboration between UNIMEDTH and the Ondo State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency (OSDHCMA), describing the agency as central to the state’s medicines security framework.
According to him, stronger alignment with the agency’s systems would help eliminate drug shortages, prevent the circulation of substandard medicines, and ensure transparency in the procurement and distribution of health commodities.
He disclosed that OSDHCMA is being repositioned into a State Drugs and Health Commodities Distribution Centre with the capacity to serve both public and private healthcare facilities within and beyond Ondo State.
Adekola added that comprehensive operational guidelines are currently being developed for the new framework, with the support of stakeholders across the health sector following the approval of the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Awolowo Ajaka.
As part of the reforms, the state government is also introducing an evidence-based nutrition model for hospitalised patients. Under the initiative, nutrition will be treated as a clinical intervention, with meals tailored to patients’ medical conditions, recovery needs, and metabolic requirements.
The programme, which will be implemented in partnership with the West Africa Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN), is expected to improve treatment outcomes, reduce complications, and shorten hospital stays. UNIMEDTH is expected to play a leading role in piloting and refining the initiative.
Adekola further urged the hospital management to identify areas suitable for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) investments, particularly in diagnostic services, imaging, specialised clinics, digital health infrastructure, and biomedical engineering.
He said Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration has demonstrated strong commitment to healthcare development and that the state is entering a new phase marked by strategic reforms, stronger partnerships, and measurable performance targets.
Responding, the Chief Medical Director of UNIMEDTH, Prof. Michael Gbala, commended the state government for improvements recorded in the health sector over the past three years.
Gbala noted that the return and availability of medical professionals in the state’s health facilities have significantly improved service delivery.
He, however, called for better drug supply management to ensure consistent access to essential medicines. He stressed the need for health facilities to maintain stocks of rare but critical drugs that could become lifesaving during emergencies.
The CMD specifically highlighted anti-venom medication, noting that victims of snake bites cannot afford delays in treatment while such drugs are being sourced.
He therefore called for the identification of critical medicines and stronger collaboration among healthcare facilities to guarantee their availability whenever needed.