Lagos, Nigeria (May 27, 2026)** — In a decisive move to tackle medicine shortages and enhance service delivery, the Lagos State Government is reviewing its Drug Access Expansion (DAE) Programme to ensure enrollees of the popular Ilera Eko health insurance scheme receive complete, timely, and reliable access to essential medications.

The review meeting, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Alausa, Ikeja, brought together key stakeholders including community pharmacists, healthcare providers, regulators, and development partners.

Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), who delivered the opening remarks, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to making healthcare “more accessible, efficient, and seamless” for residents.

“The DAE programme was born out of real challenges faced by our enrollees,” Dr. Zamba explained. Launched in April 2024 following widespread complaints about unavailable prescribed drugs and incomplete dispensing at facilities, the initiative serves as a strategic bridge to guarantee uninterrupted pharmaceutical care under the Ilera Eko scheme.

Six months after rollout, LASHMA commissioned an independent consultant, conducted internal assessments, and ran customer satisfaction surveys to gather honest feedback from users. The ongoing review aims to refine the programme into a more effective, user-friendly model based on practical insights from providers on the ground.

Dr. Zamba praised community pharmacies and healthcare facilities for their critical role, urging greater collaboration to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Lagos. “Your recommendations will shape the future of this programme,” she assured participants, promising that all suggestions would be carefully integrated into ongoing reforms.

The Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Lagos Zonal Office, Pharm. Ibrahim Ahmed (represented by Pharm. Dr. Taiwo Filusi), commended LASHMA for integrating community pharmacies into the scheme. He described the move as a game-changer for accessibility, convenience, and quality pharmaceutical services across the state.

Dr. Victoria Egunjobi, Executive Secretary of the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), echoed this sentiment, highlighting how partnerships among stakeholders are vital for delivering safe, effective medications and improving overall health outcomes.

Representing development partners, Mrs. Jennifer Ladokun, Regional Manager (Southwest) for Society for Family Health (SFH), applauded the initiative. She reaffirmed SFH and ACIOE Foundation’s support for equitable healthcare access through strong public-private collaborations.

Since its launch, the DAE programme has onboarded nearly 200 community pharmacies across Lagos, significantly expanding options for enrollees to access quality drugs closer to their communities — often at no extra cost. This has helped reduce out-of-pocket expenses and addressed previous stock-out issues.

Lagos continues to lead Nigeria in innovative social health insurance through Ilera Eko, with lessons from this programme potentially serving as a blueprint for other states.

The review signals a clear message: the Lagos State Government is listening to residents and providers alike, and is determined to build a more responsive, sustainable healthcare system that leaves no one behind.

Stakeholders are optimistic that DAE 2.0 will deliver even better results. LASHMA has also launched a feedback survey for enrollees to share their experiences with the community pharmacy programme.

For more information on Ilera Eko and the DAE programme, residents are encouraged to visit www.lashma.com or call the toll-free line 0800-ASK-LASHMA.