Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, Managing Director of the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), emphasized the crucial role of community pharmacists in enhancing health conditions through the state’s health insurance scheme. His remarks were delivered during the 33rd annual conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Anambra State chapter.
In his keynote speech, Dr. Onyemaechi described Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as an essential goal, a journey that demands the participation of key health sector stakeholders. He highlighted that the health coverage ASHIA is working towards ensures that all individuals have access to high-quality healthcare services without financial burden.
Dr. Onyemaechi underscored the integral role community pharmacists play within ASHIA. He noted that these pharmacists supply quality-assured medicines to ASHIA facilities, ensuring continuity of care for enrollees. To combat the issue of medication shortages, ASHIA has established partnerships with community pharmacists across the state, allowing enrollees to obtain necessary medications even when not available at ASHIA facilities.
He encouraged further collaboration between community pharmacists and ASHIA through community health outreach programs and leveraging their services to increase scheme enrollment. Additionally, he praised Governor Chukwuma Soludo for increasing subsidies for the scheme instead of raising enrollment fees, ensuring its sustainability.
Pharmacist Henry Iloh, Chairman of ACPN Anambra State, remarked that the conference provided a platform to evaluate ASHIA’s operations and seek greater involvement of pharmacists in patient care and overall health improvement in the state.
Event Chairman, Pharmacist Ikem Odumodu, identified challenges such as low budgetary allocation, limited subnational knowledge, and high out-of-pocket expenditures affecting health insurance policy. He called for strategic collaborations to overcome these obstacles.
Participants, including former ACPN Chairman Pharmacist Uche Akpakama, Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Anambra State chapter Pharmacist Onyeka Obidiegwu, and Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Pharmacist Ifeanyi Okeke, supported the integration of community pharmacists in ASHIA services to enhance agency operations.
National Chairman of ACPN, Pharmacist Adewale Oladigbolu, was represented by the National Financial Secretary, Pharmacist Obiageli Ukwu. The conference, themed “Innovative Strategies for Expanding Community Pharmacy Services in Anambra: A Path to Universal Health Coverage,” aimed to explore strategies for broadening the impact of community pharmacies on health coverage in Anambra.
