By Danjuma Amodu | February 17, 2026
The Federal Government has taken a major step towards making medicines more affordable and accessible to Nigerians with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to operationalise Medipool as the country’s National Group Purchasing Organisation (GPO).
The MoU, signed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen the national health supply chain and improve the availability of essential medicines. Medipool is expected to aggregate demand for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies across public and private health facilities, enabling bulk purchasing, price negotiation, and improved quality assurance.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, stated that the operationalisation of Medipool represents a strategic shift in how Nigeria procures and delivers essential medicines, aimed at lowering costs, expanding access, and building a more resilient health system.
The initiative supports key national priorities, including the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), and the National Health Supply Chain Transformation Plan.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the Medipool initiative on May 12, 2025, aimed at reducing the cost of essential medicines and improving access to healthcare products across Nigeria. Medipool is a group purchasing organisation designed to leverage the government’s buying power to negotiate lower prices for pharmaceuticals and healthcare products.
The operationalisation of Medipool is expected to reinforce President Bola Tinubu’s broader health sector reform agenda, aimed at building a more resilient, transparent, and cost-efficient healthcare system that delivers better health outcomes and financial protection for all Nigerians.
