Health
Pate advocates healthcare investment for UHC in Nigeria
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof. Ali Pate,, has emphasised that investing in healthcare was crucial for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.
He made this statement on Thursday in Abuja at the commemoration of UHC Day 2024, themed “Health on the House Government.”
Pate underscored that healthcare investment was not solely the responsibility of the federal government, but a collective effort that included states and non-state actors.
“It is not only the Federal Government’s responsibility; states and global partners can do more.
“Non-state actors can also encourage others to prioritise greater investment, as good health is not achieved cheaply.
“Quality healthcare is not inexpensive, and for every investment made in health, the returns are far greater,” he said.
He highlighted that investments in healthcare would bring considerable dividends.
“For instance, a one dollar investment in combating Tuberculosis yields 43 dollars in return, while one dollar spent on immunisation generates multiple returns.
“By preventing pneumonia, we save both money and lives, which significantly impacts the economy,” he said.
Regarding the federal government’s efforts toward UHC, Pate noted that the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII) had already made a positive impact.
However, he acknowledged that the country still had a long way to go in terms of healthcare delivery.
According to him, over the past year, 238 facilities have been upgraded to functional level two, with an additional 320 facilities currently undergoing upgrades.
He said that states have also taken the initiative to upgrade 2,600 facilities using impact funds, and the Project Hope programme was providing incentives to upgrade another 2,000 facilities.
“More than 8,000 facilities are receiving direct funding through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) across all 36 states.
“Additionally, two million people have been enrolled in health insurance in the past year.”
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, encouraged health workers to continue advancing the health system and called for greater public education on the importance of saving for healthcare.
He emphasised that saving for health was essential, just as one would save for car repairs.
Dr Walter Mulombo, the World Health Organisation’s Country Representative to Nigeria, stated that UHC was fundamentally a political choice.
He commended President Bola Tinubu’s leadership in UHC reforms, particularly his focus on sustainable and innovative financing.
“If Nigeria delivers on UHC, it will have a domino effect on Africa and the world,” he said.
Mr Dave Conalogue, Co-Chair of Health Development Partners in Nigeria, highlighted the positive changes brought about by development partners.
He emphasised their increasing support for government systems, including pooling resources and providing on-budget support to strengthen healthcare delivery.
NAN
Health
Experts call for pharma sector harmonisation
Health sector experts have called for the harmonisation of pharmaceutical activities in Nigeria to eliminate duplication, enhance efficiency, and improve access to quality medicines and health products.
The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement focused on aligning efforts under the Improving Access to Medicines through Policy and Technical Support (IMPACT) project.
Dr Tayo Hamzat, Supply Chain Management Officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO), said the engagement was timely, considering the number of ongoing but uncoordinated interventions in the sector.
“Harmonisation will lead to faster access to health products, lower costs, improved efficiency, and better regulatory oversight.
“It requires collaboration and a focus on strengthening national systems.”
He described Nigeria’s pharmaceutical system as “robust and huge” but hindered by weak coordination and fragmented management structures.
Dr Francis Ohanyido, Director-General of the West Africa Institute of Public Health, said such collaboration was “common sense” given limited development financing and the need to optimise resources.
“Market shaping is a critical tool.
“Harmonisation can help us identify clear gaps we need to fill, especially in preparation for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he said.
Dr Anthony Ayeke, Programme Manager for Health and Nutrition at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting a resilient, locally driven pharmaceutical sector.
“Harmonisation can accelerate local production, reduce import dependency, and improve healthcare system resilience,” he noted.
He also recommended regulatory streamlining, value chain capacity building, innovation, and public-private partnerships.
Dr Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the Pharmaceutical Value Chain Transformation Committee (PVAC), commended ongoing efforts under the IMPACT project.
Represented by Dr Muhammad Balarabe, Technical Associate at PVAC, he emphasised the committee’s focus on catalysing local production and attracting sustainable investment.
“Let’s use this platform to strengthen partnerships and align interventions with the vision of affordable, high-quality healthcare for all Nigerians,” he said.
Dr Obi Adigwe, Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), said fragmented interventions and redundant regulations had long stunted growth in the sector.
Represented by Prof. Philip Builders, Professor of Pharmaceutics at NIPRD he said: “Equitable access to quality medicine is the foundation of universal healthcare.
“The lack of access is not just a health issue; it’s about equity, national security, and economic survival.
“Harmonisation isn’t just about avoiding duplication; it’s about aligning policy, investment, and technical frameworks to achieve measurable results.”
He urged stakeholders to develop practical short, medium, and long-term strategies to make Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector self-reliant, globally competitive, and able to meet national healthcare demands.
The meeting brought together key government agencies, development partners, and private sector actors, each reaffirming a shared commitment to a unified, efficient pharmaceutical ecosystem in Nigeria.
NAN
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