State Of Healthcare In Nigeria: Impact, Implications, And The Path Forward || Abimbola Yagboyaju
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, faces significant challenges in its healthcare sector, directly affecting the well-being of its citizens. With a population estimated to exceed 400 million by 2050, the healthcare system’s shortcomings carry life-threatening consequences, especially for the most vulnerable.
Substandard and falsified medicines remain a critical issue in Nigeria. For instance, substandard antimalarials alone contribute to an estimated 74,188 deaths annually. In the northern regions, this crisis costs the economy around $698 million each year and results in about 9,700 deaths.
Poor-quality medicines, particularly in rural areas, compound these problems, creating health inequities and diminishing public confidence in the healthcare system.
The prevalence of substandard drugs has severe health implications, including the development of drug resistance, which leads to treatment failure. This not only worsens the health crisis but increases the economic burden on individuals and the healthcare system, as many Nigerians resort to out-of-pocket spending for healthcare.
Out-of-pocket spending accounts for around 75% of healthcare expenditures in Nigeria, this is among the highest in the world.
The lack of affordable, quality healthcare places an enormous financial strain on families, pushing many into poverty.
The country’s high-income inequality exacerbates the situation, as the wealthy have access to better medical care, while poor and rural populations are left to suffer from inadequate services.
This inequitable access to care has ripple effects. When people lack trust in the system, they seek care elsewhere. Nigeria loses an estimated $2 billion annually to medical tourism, with more than half of that amount going to India. This massive outflow further weakens the domestic healthcare infrastructure and leaves many without viable treatment options.
The Nigerian government has taken steps to address the healthcare challenges. Notably, the National Health Insurance Authority Act of 2022 mandates health insurance for all citizens and legal residents, aiming to achieve universal coverage by 2030. This is a significant policy shift in a country where less than 5% of the population had health insurance coverage, before this law.
In addition, the government has constructed 10,000 Primary Health Care (PHC) centers, expanded testing and laboratory facilities, and rehabilitated Federal Medical Centers. Programs such as the Saving One Million Lives (SOML) initiative focus on reducing under-5 mortality through efforts in maternal and child health, polio vaccinations, and malaria control.
However, despite these commendable initiatives, the challenges of healthcare financing, inefficiencies, and corruption persist. The government’s budget allocation for health remains low, with only 5% allocated in 2021, far below the 15% pledge from the 2001 Abuja Declaration.
While these efforts are commendable, key obstacles such as funding deficits, medical worker shortages, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure continue to plague healthcare improvement in Nigeria.
Nigeria faces a severe shortage of healthcare professionals, with only 35,000 doctors, despite needing over 237,000. The poor compensation and working conditions drive many skilled workers to seek better opportunities abroad.
To improve healthcare outcomes for the average Nigerian, several critical steps such as increasing healthcare funding, combating corruption, strengthening primary healthcare, investing in telemedicine, and promoting health insurance are part of the urgent interventions needed.
Nigeria’s healthcare system is at a crossroads. The country’s burgeoning population demands urgent reforms, from combating substandard medicines to improving infrastructure and ensuring universal health coverage. While the government has made strides, more is needed to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of location or income, can access quality healthcare.
Addressing these challenges will not only save lives but also promote economic stability and national well-being. With the right policies, investment, and transparency, Nigeria can build a healthcare system that meets the needs of its people today and in the future.
