Blueprint for healthcare security in Nigeria by 2050: ensuring access, promoting adherence and safe use of medicines

Abstract

Introduction: Access to drugs and their safe use are essential to delivery of healthcare. At the present, the healthcare delivery in Nigeria requires a considerable attention as access to quality care remains poor. Population explosion will likely worsen the already challenged situation except proper planning is instituted, and followed through. Aim and objectives: The overall goal of this article is to develop a blueprint for the healthcare security in Nigeria by 2050 by improving access to quality drugs and management of drug-related diseases. The specific objectives include: establishment of facility for serum/plasma assay for therapeutic and non-therapeutic drugs: establishment of poison information and management center(s) in all the geo-political zones of Nigeria within the next 12 years; development of human and infrastructural capacity to handle drug analyses in, at least, one center in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria Methodology: This proposal is a thematic area and part of the National Universities Commission sponsored blueprint for healthcare security of Nigeria by 2050. Relevant articles and documents relating drug adherence, clinical trial and clinical toxicology were sourced and synthesized as appropriate. Inferences were drawn based on available human and material resources and, in turn projected accordingly. Conclusion: There is a dearth of relevant professionals and infrastructural facility to ensure adequate access and safe use of drugs in Nigeria, even at the present. There is need for strategic planning to overcome the present challenges in the healthcare system, and a phased-approach to capacity development has been proposed.