The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHCDA, has said over 70 percent of medical drugs being dispensed in Nigeria are substandard.

National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA

The agency made this known on its website ahead of the Primary Healthcare Summit tagged: ‘Re-imaging Primary Health Care in Nigeria’.

According to the agency, majority of Nigerians do not have access to health services.

“The majority of Nigerians do not have access to health services; 20 percent of all maternal deaths globally occur in Nigeria; infant mortality occurs at a rate of 19 deaths per 1,000 births; children under five are dying at a rate of 128 per 1,000; over 70 per cent of medical drugs dispensed in Nigeria are substandard”, It stated.

It added that the country is faced with a number of healthcare challenges.

“The weaknesses of the PHC system led to the under-utilisationof the PHC, resulting in significant burden within the health sector, with patients over-lying on tertiary and secondary health care services”.

Story: Asma’u Sani

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