By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

The Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday, approved about N10.299 billion for the procurement of diagnostic kits for diabetes, antiretroviral drugs for resistant HIV/AIDS patients, antibiotics, antihypertensives and anti-diabetic medications.

Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The FEC meeting was the second of the week.

The Minister said that the government intervention in the health sector was in line with the President’s aspiration to ensure that Nigerians get access to quality and affordable health services.

He explained that out of the total sum, N997 was earmarked for another procurement of antiretroviral drugs for resistant HIV/AIDS patients, N2 billion is for diagnostic kits for diabetes and N4.5 billion is for the procurement of medical commodities such as antibiotics, antihypertensives and anti-diabetic medications.

The sum also includes N2.1 billion for the procurement of a mobile X-ray machine for the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi, as well as the rehabilitation and equipping of the hospital with a computerized tomography cat scan and 64-slice CT scan.

He said: “Today (Wednesday) two memos related to the health and social welfare sector, in line with the President’s aspiration to ensure that Nigerians get access to quality health services and that they can afford and for which we’ll be making steady progress.

FEC approved a contract worth 10,299,000,000 naira for various products that are linked to enhancing the accessibility and affordability of health commodities and health services for Nigerians.

“The first category was the third line of antiretroviral drugs. A few weeks ago, we approved the first line of antiretroviral drugs, the second and third line for those who are resistant; Nigeria is putting forth resources, almost 997 million naira worth of contracts, to procure the third line of antiretroviral drugs for those who are HIV infected.

“I believe you will understand the importance of this, given the changes in the global health financing and moving towards most domestic financing to allow Nigerians to continue on treatment as they require.





https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/fec-approves-n10-3bn-for-diagnostic-kits-hiv-aids-diabetes-medications/