Within the spirit of Nigeria’s sixty fourth Independence Anniversary, stakeholders and consultants within the well being sector have urged the Federal Authorities to provide you with good insurance policies that can uplift and develop the nation’s healthcare system.
To the consultants, this could encourage entry to high quality healthcare for all regardless of tribe and faith and in addition allow common healthcare protection within the nation.
Psychedelic social employee on the Federal Neuro Psychedelic Hospital Yaba, Lagos, Ajetunmobi Temitayo, mentioned Nigeria has made progress in vaccine manufacturing, pushed by authorities initiatives and partnerships with organisations just like the African Pharmaceutical Know-how Basis (APTF) and the Nationwide Institute for Pharmaceutical Analysis and Improvement (NIPRD).
She defined that the federal government has established a nationwide plan for analysis, growth and native manufacturing of vaccines, disclosing that firms are desirous about beginning vaccine manufacturing inside the subsequent 24 to 36 months.
She defined that regardless of the progress, Nigeria nonetheless depends closely on vaccine imports as 75 per cent of its wants are imported.
“To handle this, Nigeria wants to boost native capability by means of analysis and growth, enhance regulatory frameworks and improve funding. With continued authorities assist and personal sector involvement, Nigeria can cut back import dependence, strengthen its healthcare sector, and obtain vaccine self-sufficiency, in the end enhancing public well being outcomes,” she mentioned.
Temitayo defined that Nigeria’s healthcare sector has made vital progress over the previous 64 years, with notable enhancements in life expectancy, toddler mortality charges and vaccination protection.
“Life expectancy has elevated from 53.3 years in 1960 to 64.5 years in 2022, whereas toddler mortality charges have decreased from 138 deaths per 1,000 dwell births to 74.2 deaths per 1,000 dwell births throughout the identical interval,” she added.
She mentioned the nation has additionally expanded its healthcare infrastructure, together with hospitals, clinics, and first healthcare centres, and developed nationwide well being insurance policies and methods such because the Nationwide Well being Coverage of 2016.
She famous that regardless of all these, Nigeria nonetheless faces vital challenges, together with insufficient funding, mind drain, and inequitable distribution of healthcare assets.
Healthcare allocation stays lower than 5 per cent of the nationwide price range, and the nation struggles with restricted entry to high quality healthcare, particularly for rural and weak populations.
“Nonetheless, alternatives for enchancment exist, resembling increasing the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Scheme (NHIS), leveraging public-private partnerships, and adopting digital well being improvements,” she famous.
In response to her, to handle the challenges, consultants advocate growing healthcare funding, strengthening the healthcare workforce, and enhancing neighborhood engagement and participatory healthcare.
Temitayo famous that reaching Common Well being Protection (UHC) in Nigeria requires a multi-faceted method that addresses varied challenges within the healthcare sector.
She mentioned short-term methods (2023-2025) ought to give attention to growing healthcare funding to no less than 5 per cent of the nationwide price range, increasing the NHIS to cowl extra weak populations, strengthening major healthcare, enhancing the healthcare workforce, and enhancing public-private partnerships.
She said that these initiatives needs to be aimed toward offering monetary danger safety and enhancing entry to high quality healthcare providers.
“Medium-term (2025-2030) and long-term (2030-2040) methods contain growing complete healthcare infrastructure, implementing digital well being options, specializing in preventive care, strengthening healthcare governance, and inspiring neighborhood participation. Moreover, reaching full NHIS protection, growing indigenous healthcare options, establishing specialised healthcare establishments, fostering worldwide collaborations, and guaranteeing sustainable healthcare financing are essential for Nigeria’s progress in the direction of UHC. Key reforms, stakeholder engagement, and monitoring and analysis are additionally important to make sure efficient implementation and progress monitoring,” she mentioned.
Temitayo mentioned by implementing these methods, Nigeria can considerably enhance its healthcare sector and obtain UHC.
A public well being doctor, well being promotion specialist and Fellow of the U.S. Authorities Mandela Washington Fellowship for African Leaders, Dr. Obinna Ebirim, whereas assessing the healthcare insurance policies of the federal government within the final 64 years, said that Nigeria has developed a number of good well being insurance policies, such because the Nationwide Primary Well being Companies Scheme (1975) and the Alma Ata Declaration (1978), aimed toward enhancing major healthcare. He famous that the Nationwide Well being Legislation (2014) additional solidified the authorized framework for healthcare supply, stressing that these insurance policies replicate the dedication to enhancing healthcare, particularly in major healthcare (PHC).
Ebirim mentioned political will has been the important thing determinant of success, noting: “As an example, the ‘Golden Period’ of Major Well being Care (1986-1990), noticed vital enhancements in immunisation protection and PHC growth. Nonetheless, inconsistent implementation and lack of sustained political dedication have hindered long-term well being outcomes. We’ve seen circumstances the place sturdy political backing, just like the growth of PHC or the launch of the Midwives Service Scheme (2009), led to constructive outcomes.”
Ebirim famous that many insurance policies, resembling these associated to maternal and little one well being or immunisation, haven’t been sustained lengthy sufficient to attain lasting enhancements in well being outcomes.
“In consequence, regardless of having well-intentioned coverage frameworks, the well being of the overall populace has not constantly improved. Nonetheless, whereas I price well being coverage within the final 64 years a 3 out of 5 with commendation within the areas like effectiveness, institution of suggestions, and moral concerns whereas we’ve got been missing in effectivity and analysis of options,” he added.
He said that to attain UHC in Nigeria, the nation should give attention to absolutely implementing and imposing the provisions of the Nationwide Well being Legislation (2014).
“This legislation supplies the muse for guaranteeing entry to high quality healthcare for all Nigerians. Increasing medical insurance protection is necessary, as it would cut back out-of-pocket funds, defend households from catastrophic well being expenditures, and supply monetary danger safety.
“UHC is about guaranteeing that each one folks can entry vital high quality well being providers with out struggling monetary hardship. It requires a holistic method that integrates people-centred care, strategic and sustainable financing, and a sturdy capability to reply to well being system challenges.”
He careworn that to attain this, partnerships between the federal government, non-public sector, and growth companions are important.
“The non-public sector, particularly, can play a major position in delivering healthcare options which can be scalable and sustainable.
“Moreover, reaching UHC is determined by addressing well being inequities, significantly for underserved, weak, and marginalised populations. We should design and implement well being insurance policies that particularly goal these teams to make sure that nobody is left behind. Decreasing well being disparities will assist create a fairer system, bringing us nearer to a future the place all Nigerians can get pleasure from high quality healthcare, free from the burden of catastrophic spending or monetary hardship,” he added.
A public well being coverage and administration specialist, Dr. Laz Ude Eze, mentioned different methods the Nigerian well being sector might progress embrace offering entry to vaccines throughout outbreaks.
He additionally known as for the availability of funds for analysis and growth of vaccines and diagnostic instruments and in addition for the event of efficient emergency response plans that can facilitate motion of contaminated individuals to centres for care/therapy.
“Most significantly, healthcare employees needs to be nicely taken care of and impressively remunerated,” Eze added.
He famous that there’s additionally an excellent want for collaboration amongst varied healthcare employees and professionals, stressing that this might be a extra sturdy and holistic technique.
