Ondo Targets Medicine Self-Sufficiency With Sweeping Health Reforms

​AKURE — In a major push toward universal health coverage and medical independence, the Ondo State Government has rolled out a comprehensive healthcare reform package centered on local drug manufacturing, upgraded diagnostics, and specialized clinical nutrition.

​Unveiling the initiative during a familiarisation visit to the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) in Ondo, the Senior Consultant on Pharmaceutical and Medical Investments to the state government, Dr. Samuel Adekola, revealed that Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has officially approved the establishment of the Ondo State Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Hub.

​According to Adekola, the newly approved hub is designed to secure the state’s medical supply chain, foster local pharmaceutical production, stimulate biotechnology research, and establish Ondo as a regional powerhouse in health innovation. The administration has also greenlit the immediate procurement of advanced diagnostic equipment to boost early disease detection and clinical decision-making across state medical facilities.

​Emphasizing institutional synergy, Adekola noted that UNIMEDTH remains central to executing the agenda. He called for a tighter integration between the teaching hospital and the Ondo State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency (OSDHCMA) to eliminate stockouts, block the circulation of substandard drugs, and ensure transparent distribution. The agency is primed to evolve into a full-scale State Drugs and Health Commodities Distribution Centre servicing both public and private health institutions within and beyond the state’s borders.

​Furthermore, the state is introducing an evidence-based clinical nutrition model for in-patient care. Developed in partnership with the West Africa Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN), the framework treats patient nutrition as a vital medical intervention rather than a routine service, delivering tailored meals designed to accelerate recovery and shorten hospital stays. Adekola also urged UNIMEDTH management to identify strategic areas—such as advanced imaging, specialized clinics, digital health, and biomedical engineering—ripe for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) investments.

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​Responding to the development, the Chief Medical Director of UNIMEDTH, Prof. Michael Gbala, commended the Aiyedatiwa administration for visible transformations in the state’s health landscape over the past three years, particularly the improved retention and availability of medical personnel.

​While welcoming the reform agenda, Gbala underscored the urgency of maintaining robust inventories of critical, life-saving medicines that may not be frequently demanded but prove indispensable during emergencies. He specifically highlighted anti-venom as an essential stock item required to prevent tragic delays during snakebite treatments, advocating for stronger logistical linkages among state health facilities.