Nigeria has adopted a 12-point action plan to strengthen healthcare delivery, address shortages of health workers in rural communities and increase domestic health financing ahead of the 2027 expiration of its current Health Sector Strategic Blueprint.
The resolutions were contained in a communiqué read on Thursday in Abuja by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, at the conclusion of the three-day 2026 Health Sector Joint Annual Review (JAR), held at the Transcorp Event Centre.
The review, held from November 10 to 12 under the theme, “Together to Higher Ground: Make Reform Data Count,” assessed progress in the third year of implementing the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp).
According to the communiqué, the review was guided by the principles of “one plan, one budget, one report, and one conversation” and drew on evidence from the 2026 JAR Statistical Book, the Mini Demographic and Health Survey (Mini-DHS), DHIS2-FASTR analyses and the People’s Voices Survey.
Stakeholders acknowledged progress made by the Federal Government over the past year, including reductions in facility-based maternal mortality, improved functionality of thousands of Primary Healthcare (PHC) centres, the expansion of emergency medical transport services nationwide and increased investments through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
The forum also commended the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) for facilitating the commencement of local production of Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets (LLINs), describing the development as a significant boost to domestic manufacturing and national health security.
Despite the gains, participants identified persistent challenges affecting the sector, particularly shortages of healthcare workers, gaps in professional competence, inadequate regulation of health facilities and the need for more predictable domestic funding.
The communiqué stressed that, with 2027 marking the final year of the current Health Sector Strategic Blueprint, the success of ongoing reforms would be determined by measurable improvements in health outcomes and the quality of care available to women, children, families and communities.
To address workforce shortages, stakeholders agreed to operationalise the National Human Resources for Health Programme through a dedicated management structure, state-level retention strategies and targeted incentives to encourage the deployment of health workers to rural and underserved communities.
On health financing, the forum resolved to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation through increased budgetary allocations, timely release of funds, the implementation of pro-health taxation policies and improved digital tracking of expenditure to ensure compliance with BHCPF transfer timelines.
To improve primary healthcare services, participants agreed to fast-track the certification of PHCs ready to provide Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC).
The certification would be based on standardised requirements covering staffing, medicines, equipment, access to water and electricity, and security.
Stakeholders also resolved to expand BHCPF-supported interventions in high-burden Local Government Areas identified under the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Initiative, with resource allocation guided by data and local needs.
On emergency healthcare, the forum committed to establishing a unified reimbursement mechanism, institutionalising community-led referral and emergency transport systems, and accelerating the passage of the National Emergency Medical Treatment System Bill.
To strengthen regulatory oversight and local pharmaceutical production, participants pledged support for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to attain the World Health Organisation (WHO) Maturity Level 4 status by 2027.
They also agreed to operationalise approved coordinated drug distribution centres.
In addition, the review adopted the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) as Nigeria’s single national platform for aggregating and reporting health data, with a view to improving data quality, timely reporting and interoperability across states.
The communiqué noted that consolidating the gains recorded under the NHSRII and the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint would require sustained commitment, stronger accountability, increased domestic financing and evidence-based decision-making.
It was jointly signed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate; Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom; Chairman of the Forum of Commissioners for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani; and the representative of the Health Development Partners Group, Dr. Pavel Ursu.
The three-day review was attended by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako; members of the National Assembly; state commissioners for health; traditional and religious leaders; civil society organisations; academics; and private sector representatives.
