This yr’s commemoration of the Common Well being Protection (UHC) Day on December 12, with the theme, “Well being: It’s on the Authorities,” underscored the heavy reliance on out-of-pocket funds to fund well being providers in Africa, which continues to be a major barrier to attaining UHC.
A report by the World Well being Organisation (WHO) regional workplace for Africa famous that over 200 million folks in Africa face monetary pressure attributable to out-of-pocket well being funds, with greater than 150 million people being pushed into or deeper into poverty in consequence.
Highlighting the important thing findings, the report reveals that in 2019, out-of-pocket funds accounted for over 25 % of well being spending in 31 African international locations, exceeding 50 % in 11 international locations and 70 % in three others.
Whereas the worldwide variety of folks impoverished attributable to well being prices dropped by over 75 % between 2000 and 2019, Africa noticed solely a 50 % lower.
This newspaper remembers that in final yr’s commemoration of UHC, the Coordinating Minister of Well being and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, acknowledged that the federal authorities had articulated the Nigeria Well being Sector Renewal Funding Initiative (NHSRII) to advance the nation’s journey in the direction of UHC.
He stated the initiative would enhance the essential well being of all Nigerians, notably ladies and kids, whom he described as probably the most susceptible elements of the nation’s inhabitants.
The minister revealed that the initiative would transfer Nigeria nearer to attaining UHC by regularly increasing medical health insurance protection, making certain wholesome and viable threat swimming pools by means of more practical governance, and establishing an enabling surroundings for higher private and non-private sector collaboration.
Taking inventory whereas marking one yr because the presidential unveiling of the NHSRII and the signing of the Sector-Large Strategy (SWAp) compact between the federal authorities, 36 state governments, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and improvement companions throughout this yr’s UHC commemoration on December 12, Pate admitted that the costs of meals, medication, transportation, and subsistence have elevated.
The most recent Nationwide Well being Account expenditure information by the Federal Ministry of Well being and Social Welfare and the Nationwide Bureau of Statistics (NBS) estimate the full well being expenditure per Nigerian at underneath $100.
We recognise that one of many automobiles by means of which UHC might be achieved seamlessly is the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Authority (NHIA), previously the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Scheme (NHIS), which was launched in 2005 however has sadly not been in a position to ship a lot on its mandate, with nearly 19.2 million folks insured thus far.
Indubitably, enrolling in an insurance coverage scheme ensures that Nigerians can get medical care with out paying for it on the level and time of want.
This newspaper finds it lamentable that even within the twenty first Century, medical health insurance remains to be aspiring to cowl essential wants corresponding to household planning, HIV and tuberculosis remedies, most cancers care, diabetes, hypertension, and diet.
Compounding the problem is the state of Main Healthcare Centres (PHCs) within the nation, a lot of which have challenges that make it tough to ensure high quality providers.
In response to the Nationwide Main Well being Care Improvement Company (NPHCDA), there are 30,000 PHCs within the nation, with about 8,000 PHCs funded immediately by the federal authorities by means of state governments. Others should not in a position to meet the factors for absolutely practical providers.
We recall that the Fundamental Well being Provision Fund (BHCPF) was established in 2014 by the Nationwide Well being Act to offer a Fundamental Minimal Package deal of Well being Providers (BMPHS) to all Nigerians, together with the poor and susceptible, by means of the one % Consolidated Income Fund (CRF).
Nevertheless, its implementation has been stricken by delayed fund transfers, poor information administration, corruption, and the dearth of preparedness of native authorities well being authorities to handle the fund.
In a bid to make UHC a actuality by 2030, the WHO has known as for intensified efforts to enhance monetary safety in well being. By investing in well being techniques and abolishing affected person charges, governments can make sure that nobody has to decide on between their well being and their livelihood.
In our thought of opinion, having to pay for medicines and different healthcare prices out of pocket can immediately alter the trajectory of somebody’s life towards monetary hardship and ailing well being. It might power many to spend much less on different fundamental wants corresponding to meals and housing, thereby worsening their circumstances.
Regardless of these challenges, the report revealed that international locations with larger authorities funding in well being providers reported decrease charges of economic hardship from out-of-pocket funds.
It known as for pressing motion to guard populations from monetary hardship, together with exempting poor folks from healthcare charges, increasing government-funded well being providers, and introducing medical health insurance.
Nonetheless, regardless of the nation’s poor scorecard, Pate stated there’s excellent news to report: extra Nigerians (47 %) endorsed the trajectory of the well being system, and 54 % are assured within the authorities’s capability to successfully handle well being emergencies – a rise of 17 % in comparison with 2023.
These good points, whereas notable, should not obscure the necessity for extra decisive motion.
Common Well being Protection by 2030 stays an bold however attainable purpose. To realize it, Nigeria should prioritise investments in its well being techniques, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and make sure that programmes such because the NHIA and BHCPF fulfil their mandates. The prices of inaction – measured in lives misplaced, households impoverished, and alternatives squandered – are just too nice.
The street to UHC could also be lengthy, however the time to speed up is now.
