By Cynthia Alo

The mission is clear for Michael Okonkwo, a licensed Nigerian pharmacist and health economics and outcomes researcher at the University of Houston, Texas: Bridge the gap between policy, health economics, and access to substance use disorder treatment. His research is reshaping how healthcare systems can optimize treatment access, reduce financial barriers, and improve patient outcomes for individuals struggling with addiction and mental health challenges, leveraging real-world evidence.

Michael’s work explores how economic policies, drug pricing models, and healthcare financing mechanisms impact access to life-saving treatments, including medication-assisted therapy (MAT) for opioid use disorders.

“My goal is to provide policymakers and political leaders with the evidence they need to create more accessible and cost-effective treatment models for mental health and substance use disorder,” Okonkwo explained in an interview with Vanguard.

“Too many people cannot get the care they need due to financial and systemic barriers. We can change that through evidence-based research.

“As a student, I was taught that quality healthcare relied on three key pillars: economic, clinical, and humanistic outcomes. It is difficult to justify a clinical regimen that impoverishes a patient; this is what my research aims to solve.”

When he was practicing in Nigeria, the national health insurance scheme covered less than three percent of the population, leaving millions without access to affordable healthcare.

Patients frequently relapsed, and despite advancements in medical technology, access to these innovations remained out of reach for most people. That was when he realized that ensuring equitable access was even more important than developing new treatments.

“As a clinical pharmacist in Nigeria, I watched patients suffer—not necessarily because treatment didn’t exist, but because they couldn’t afford it,” Okonkwo recalled.

“I have graphic images in my head of patients with relatively stable conditions deteriorating beyond control simply due to a lack of access. This inspired me to move into health economics and outcomes research—to find sustainable solutions that ensure people get the care they need, regardless of their financial situation.”

Before transitioning into academia, Okonkwo served as a clinical pharmacist and later as a retail pharmacy manager. “Working as a pharmacist and in the pharmaceutical sector made me realize that real change doesn’t just happen in the hospital—it happens at the policy level, where decisions about healthcare funding, drug pricing, and access are made.

“My colleagues and I were literally helpless in the consulting rooms. As much as we wanted to help patients, prices kept surging, disparities kept widening, and we had to make difficult on-the-spot decisions to balance sustainability and patient care,” Okonkwo said.

Now a researcher at the University of Houston, Okonkwo focuses on managing substance use disorder, health system efficiency, and optimizing healthcare costs. His research informs real-world policy decisions that can expand access to addiction and mental health treatment while ensuring healthcare systems remain financially sustainable.

As Okonkwo continues to push the boundaries of health economics and outcomes research, his work can reshape how substance use disorder treatment is delivered and financed globally.

His research provides insights into how policymakers can expand health coverage, improve drug affordability, and create more equitable healthcare systems.

“Healthcare access is not just a Nigerian problem; I was shocked to discover the severity of the issue even in the United States. In both Nigeria and the US, major barriers still prevent people from receiving proper substance use disorder treatment,” Okonkwo stated.

“My goal is to make treatment accessible to all—so that financial status is never a barrier to recovery. This is the society we intend to create.”

As Michael Okonkwo continues to break new ground in evidence-based policy research, his work represents a critical step toward ensuring that healthcare is not just available but genuinely accessible to those who need it most.