Nigeria reaffirms its goal to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030, with focus on insurance, PHC reforms, and innovation in healthcare delivery
Nigeria has restated its strong commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, with a focus on innovation, health insurance reform, and public-private partnerships. This was highlighted during the African Health Business Symposium held in Abuja, where the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, addressed top stakeholders from across Africa.
Dr Salako said Universal Health Coverage is more than just a healthcare plan it is a basic human right. He explained that UHC is key to reducing poverty, promoting national development, and ensuring every Nigerian, especially those in rural and hard-to-reach communities, has access to affordable, quality health services.
Slow Progress Across Africa
Speaking on the current state of UHC across the continent, Dr Salako expressed concern about the slow progress. He noted that while many African countries have included UHC in their national plans, actual service coverage is still limited.
He referenced data from the World Health Organization (WHO), which shows that Africa’s Service Coverage Index rose from just 23 in the year 2000 to only 44 by 2021. With only five years left to the 2030 deadline, the Minister urged countries to increase their efforts and rethink their strategies.
He recommended adopting a people-focused Primary Health Care (PHC) model and using innovative ideas in how healthcare is funded, managed, and delivered.
“Innovation is not optional; it is the engine to drive us forward,” Dr Salako said.
Nigeria’s Progress So Far
Highlighting the steps Nigeria has taken to improve access to healthcare, Dr Salako mentioned key reforms such as:
- Full implementation of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, which now makes health insurance compulsory for all citizens and legal residents.
- Setting up functional state-level health insurance agencies in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
- Achieving a 15% increase in insurance coverage within the last two years.
- Plans to upgrade over 17,000 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to a higher standard by 2027.
- A Presidential initiative that promotes local production of medicines by removing taxes and tariffs on pharmaceutical raw materials.
He also pointed out that digital health technology, such as telemedicine, electronic medical records, and AI-supported diagnosis, is already being adopted to expand access to care, especially in underserved areas.
Challenges Nigeria Still Faces
Despite this progress, Dr Salako acknowledged that Nigeria’s health sector still has several challenges. These include:
- Underfunded healthcare budgets
- High out-of-pocket payments by patients
- Loss of skilled health workers to foreign countries
- Inadequate health infrastructure and equipment
To solve these issues, he called for long-term funding strategies, stronger public-private partnerships, and regional cooperation between African nations.
He added, “As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu always says, Nigeria is open for business. We invite investment that supports our drive toward universal access to healthcare.”
Call to Action
The Minister urged all participants at the event to move beyond talking and focus on results. He said it is time to turn ideas into clear policies and meaningful partnerships that can improve real-life health outcomes.
“Let us build a continent where no one is left behind, where every African enjoys the right to health and a future of dignity,” he concluded.
Source: Voice of Nigeria - von.gov.ng