VIYA Health and Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd are intensifying efforts to expand access to affordable family planning products in Nigeria.
The renewed commitment follows a strategic engagement between the companies and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare held at the Office of the Director of Family Health in Abuja, where stakeholders discussed ways to accelerate access to innovative contraceptive solutions and strengthen Nigeria’s family planning ecosystem.
The collaboration comes at a critical period for Nigeria’s healthcare sector as policymakers seek to improve maternal health indicators, expand reproductive healthcare access and achieve a national target of 27 percent Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR) by 2030.
Health sector analysts say improving access to affordable contraceptives is increasingly being viewed not only as a public health issue but also as an economic development priority due to its implications for maternal mortality reduction, workforce participation, household income stability and long-term demographic planning.
Central to the latest initiative is the rollout of a World Health Organization (WHO)-prequalified generic version of subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC), developed by Incepta Pharmaceuticals under the brand Medogen SubQ.
The product achieved a major milestone in October 2025 when the WHO granted its first-ever prequalification approval for a generic DMPA-SC formulation, confirming that the contraceptive meets international standards for safety, efficacy and quality.
The development was supported by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, highlighting growing international backing for reproductive healthcare interventions targeted at emerging markets.
As Incepta’s sole representative for DMPA-SC products in Nigeria, Ghana and selected African markets, VIYA Health is expected to play a central role in expanding market penetration and supporting integration of the product into existing healthcare systems.
The company, which focuses on women’s healthcare through digital care services, data-driven solutions and health products, said its role extends beyond product distribution into healthcare system strengthening and provider support.
Representing the director of family health at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Oyeniyi said the government views increased access to DMPA-SC as an important component of Nigeria’s long-term reproductive healthcare strategy.
According to him, rising demand for the product and ongoing collaboration with development partners could significantly contribute toward achieving Nigeria’s national contraceptive targets by the end of the decade.
He noted that substantial groundwork had already been undertaken by both public and private stakeholders to improve awareness, supply availability and healthcare provider readiness around DMPA-SC adoption.
Speaking on the initiative, Pharm. Billy Shoaga described the partnership between VIYA Health and Incepta Pharmaceuticals as consistent with the company’s broader objective of empowering women through improved healthcare access.
According to Shoaga, the introduction of a WHO-prequalified generic DMPA-SC product addresses longstanding affordability and supply constraints within the family planning market.
He explained that availability of lower-cost injectable contraceptives could enable millions of women to access a discreet and convenient family planning option that can be self-administered independently.
Shoaga also stressed that VIYA Health’s engagement with Nigeria’s healthcare system goes beyond commercial distribution.
He said the company is working closely with federal and state ministries of health, primary healthcare institutions and implementing partners to equip healthcare workers and stakeholders with the technical knowledge required to successfully integrate DMPA-SC into existing family planning programmes.
According to him, these efforts are designed to strengthen healthcare delivery systems, advance self-care initiatives and close access gaps currently limiting uptake of modern contraceptive solutions across underserved communities.
He further disclosed that the dual-market strategy adopted by the partners is intended to strengthen confidence and expand availability across both public and private healthcare channels.
Under the arrangement, Medogen SubQ will primarily serve Nigeria’s public healthcare sector, while VIYA Health’s proprietary brand, Meuri-SubQ, will target the private healthcare market.
Both products, however, represent the same WHO-prequalified DMPA-SC formulation.
The family planning segment, in particular, has attracted renewed investment attention due to its direct relationship with maternal health outcomes, economic productivity and healthcare system efficiency.
Shoaga reaffirmed VIYA Health’s commitment to collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem, including federal and state governments, healthcare providers, donor agencies, implementing partners and channel distributors.
According to him, ensuring consistent availability of Medogen SubQ and Meuri-SubQ across public and private healthcare systems remains central to the company’s long-term strategy in Nigeria.
