Calls are increasing for Nigeria’s healthcare sector to be strengthened to improve access to care and its quality. Ahead of the inauguration of the new president, Bola Tinubu, stakeholders have urged the new government to focus on healthcare systems strengthening, preventive healthcare, access to essential medicines, and skilled healthcare professionals. The primary healthcare system in Nigeria is largely decrepit, with general and teaching hospitals struggling with a shortage of staff and poor capacity, while essential healthcare workers are leaving the country. To address these issues, stakeholders are advocating for increased funding and private sector engagement to improve health outcomes. Universal health coverage is also being prioritized, with the introduction of mandatory and obligatory health insurance to eliminate the burden of out-of-pocket expenditure. The use of digital health technology, such as electronic health records, telemedicine, and mobile health applications, is also seen as a way to improve healthcare access and quality.
Healthcare: Nigeria Urged to Focus on Universal Coverage and Health System Strengthening
As Nigeria’s new President, Bola Tinubu, prepares to take office, calls for improving healthcare access and quality are growing louder. Despite past promises to increase national health funding to 15% of the annual budget, the primary healthcare system is largely decrepit, general hospitals are short-staffed, and teaching hospitals are struggling to retain essential healthcare workers.
With approximately 90% of Nigerians burdened by out-of-pocket healthcare costs, health stakeholders are urging the new government to focus on promoting preventive healthcare, strengthening healthcare systems, and ensuring access to essential medicines and skilled healthcare professionals.
To tackle the issue of funding, Pamela Ajayi, the President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), has called for a comprehensive approach that combines government effort with private sector potential. She suggests increasing public sector expenditure in healthcare from the current 8% to 15%, as outlined in the Abuja declaration of 2001. Ajayi also highlights the need for the national health insurance coverage to be extended to all Nigerians, with private sector investment incentivised through policy drafts yet to be signed.
Zakari Osheku, Executive Director of the Primary Healthcare Initiative, has emphasised the need for universal health coverage in Nigeria. During an advocacy session, he reported that field assessments by the organisation found that some enrollees under the basic health care provision fund lacked basic drug provisions at health facilities.
Overall, Nigeria’s next President has inherited a healthcare system in need of significant improvement. By focusing on universal coverage and health system strengthening, Nigeria can work towards ensuring access to essential healthcare for all its citizens.
Healthcare: Calls for Private Sector Engagement and Skilled Workforce Development in Nigeria
Leke Oshuniyi, the Chairman of the Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN), has stressed the need for private sector engagement in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, given that about 50% of people depend on it for their health needs. Oshuniyi also highlighted the connection between a country’s economy and its healthcare, noting that social amenities like water, electricity, and good roads can improve health outcomes. He suggests that Nigeria’s GDP needs to grow at 7-8% per year for 20 years to address the country’s healthcare needs.
Stakeholders are calling on Nigeria’s new President, Bola Tinubu, to prioritise skilled healthcare workforce development. To achieve this, they recommend developing and retaining skilled healthcare professionals, providing adequate compensation and motivation, and encouraging healthcare workers to return from the diaspora. This will help address the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural areas, where the need is greatest.
The stakeholders are also advocating for the rehabilitation and modernisation of Nigeria’s existing healthcare infrastructure, including public-private partnerships to equip facilities with modern medical equipment and technology. The use of digital health technology, such as electronic health records, telemedicine, and mobile health applications, can improve healthcare access and quality by enabling remote consultations, tracking patients, and providing access to health information.
Access to essential medicines is also a growing concern in Nigeria, particularly in light of the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stakeholders are calling for the local production of affordable, high-quality medicines to ensure they are always available to the public.
Overall, Nigeria’s healthcare sector faces significant challenges that require political leadership and private sector engagement to address. With a focus on skilled workforce development, healthcare infrastructure and technology modernisation, and access to essential medicines, Nigeria can work towards improving healthcare outcomes and ensuring access to quality healthcare for all its citizens.
Calls for Comprehensive Action to Strengthen Nigeria’s Healthcare Sector
As Nigeria prepares for the inauguration of its next president, calls for strengthening the healthcare sector and widening access to quality care are growing louder. The new president, Bola Tinubu, will be inheriting a healthcare system in need of significant improvement, including decades of failed promises to increase national funding for health to at least 15% of the annual national budget.
Tinubu will need to address a primary healthcare system that is largely decrepit, short-staffed and poorly equipped general hospitals, and teaching hospitals that are losing essential healthcare workers to other countries. With approximately 90% of the population overburdened by out-of-pocket expenditure, healthcare stakeholders are calling for a focus on strengthening healthcare systems, promoting preventive healthcare, and ensuring access to essential medicines and skilled healthcare professionals.
To address the issue of funding, Pamela Ajayi, President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), has called for a comprehensive approach that combines government effort with private sector potential. She recommends increasing public sector expenditure in healthcare from the current 8% to 15% in compliance with the Abuja declaration of 2001. Ajayi also highlights the need for the national health insurance coverage to be extended to all Nigerians, with private sector investment incentivised through policy drafts yet to be signed. The NHIA Act of May 19, 2022, aims to eliminate the problem of out-of-pocket expenditure, making healthcare accessible through mandatory and obligatory health insurance.
Zakari Osheku, Executive Director of the Primary Healthcare Initiative, has emphasised the need for advancing universal health coverage in Nigeria. During an advocacy session, he reported that some enrollees under the basic health care provision fund lacked basic drug provisions at health facilities. Osheku stresses the need for political leadership as well as private sector engagement in a country where about 50% of people depend on the private sector for their health needs.
Leke Oshuniyi, Chairman of the Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN), emphasises the link between a country’s economy and its healthcare, stating that a country’s ability to provide social amenities like water, electricity, and good roads can improve health outcomes. Oshuniyi suggests that Nigeria’s GDP needs to grow at 7-8% per year for 20 years to address the country’s healthcare needs.
Overall, Nigeria’s healthcare sector requires comprehensive action to address funding, universal health coverage, healthcare infrastructure and technology modernisation, access to essential medicines, and skilled workforce development. By focusing on these key areas, Nigeria can work towards improving healthcare outcomes and ensuring access to quality healthcare for all its citizens.
Calls for comprehensive actions to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare sector are increasing as the country prepares for the inauguration of its next president. Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, will be facing a healthcare system in need of significant improvement, including a primary healthcare system that is largely decrepit, short-staffed and poorly equipped general hospitals, and teaching hospitals that are losing essential healthcare workers to other countries. Stakeholders are calling for a focus on strengthening healthcare systems, promoting preventive healthcare, and ensuring access to essential medicines and skilled healthcare professionals. The government needs to allocate sufficient funds to the healthcare sector by increasing public sector expenditure in healthcare from the current 8% to 15% in compliance with the Abuja declaration of 2001. The NHIA Act of May 19, 2022, aims to eliminate the problem of out-of-pocket expenditure, making healthcare accessible through mandatory and obligatory health insurance.
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