President Bola Tinubu has been urged to implement import duty and value-added tax (VAT) waivers on drugs and other medical consumables.
This call was made to the president by the Ekiti State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Sunday, August 11.
According to the NMA, taking such steps would make healthcare more accessible and affordable for Nigerians especially considering the current hardship faced by many across the country.
Recall that the Nigerian government had announced a waiver on the importation of food items into the country.
This announcement came shortly after the commencement of the nationwide protest which took place between August 1 and 10, 2024.
However, in a communique issued after its 27th annual general meeting, the NMA said leverage should be extended to drugs and other medical consumables.
In addition, the NMA called on the president to also implement the newly increased capitation rates of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
The association also called on the Federal Government to strengthen the scheme to ensure broader coverage for Nigerians in the pursuit of Universal Health Coverage.
Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the chairman of NMA in Ekiti, Oreyemi Ifedayo, said such a policy would not only help reduce the spate of sudden deaths among Nigerians but also create a more conducive environment for health practitioners in the country.
Ifedayo said: “The AGM urges the President to ensure the implementation of import duty and VAT waivers on drugs and medical consumables to make healthcare affordable for Nigerians.
“This will undoubtedly help in preventing sudden deaths among Nigerians. Efforts must also be made not only to strengthen the NHIA to cover the majority of Nigerians in the pursuit of Universal Health Coverage but also to ensure the implementation of the newly increased NHIA rates,” he said.
