In a renewed call for sustainable healthcare investment, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening domestic health financing as the bedrock for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Dr Salako made this assertion during a high-level side event at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in Geneva.
The event, themed “The Future of Domestic Financing”, was co-hosted by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in partnership with global health development organisations. It convened health ministers, policymakers, donors, and technical experts to explore strategies for building resilient and equitable health systems across Africa and globally.
Representing the Nigerian government, Dr Salako emphasised that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regards sustainable healthcare financing as a national imperative. With out-of-pocket healthcare spending currently at 72%, Nigeria, he said, is implementing decisive measures to reverse the trend.
“The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has been deeply sympathetic to the plight of Nigerians burdened by healthcare costs,” said Salako.
He has strategically directed the health ministry to implement comprehensive reforms that would guarantee sustainable and equitable health financing across the country.
He noted that the cornerstone of these reforms lies in the full implementation of the National Health Act (2014) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act (2022), which collectively underpin Nigeria’s health financing framework.
“Under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, a flagship of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is already seeing notable improvements.”
According to the Minister, health insurance coverage has grown by about 15% over the past two years. All 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have now established state health insurance agencies.
“These agencies are instrumental in expanding access to quality health services for the population, especially the most vulnerable,” he added.
To protect low-income Nigerians, Dr Salako noted that the Vulnerable Group Fund is now operational, with plans under way to establish a Catastrophic Health Fund for high-cost conditions such as cancer and advanced kidney failure.
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He also highlighted innovative financing strategies being introduced to diversify funding sources for the sector. These include proposed levies on telecommunications services, sugar-sweetened beverages, tobacco, and alcohol, alongside public health taxes and health impact bonds.
“The autonomy granted to Nigeria’s 774 local government areas through economic reforms by the President has unlocked new opportunities for primary healthcare funding at the grassroots level,” he stated.
“The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), which draws 1% from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, has been reorganised for more transparency and timeliness in disbursement.
“To ensure efficient resource utilisation, Nigeria is adopting a bottom-up budgeting approach, strengthening programme integration, leveraging digital health technologies, and improving tracking of expenditures via the National Health Accounts and resource mapping systems.
“Nigeria is not only focused on mobilising more funds but also on spending smarter,” Dr Salako emphasised.
In a major diplomatic development, Nigeria has taken a leadership role in advocating for global commitments to domestic health financing. At WHA78, Nigeria sponsored a resolution urging both developed and developing countries to scale up investment in health as a key pathway to achieving UHC by 2030.
“Nigeria chaired the consultations for this resolution involving all 194 WHO member states. It received consensus approval from the executive board and will be formally presented tomorrow,” the Minister revealed.
The resolution also calls for systematic documentation of national health expenditures and stronger collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) in monitoring and improving global health financing.
Dr Salako further announced that in response to declining donor support, the Nigerian government had committed an additional $200 million in domestic funding to sustain critical public health programmes, including immunisation, malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS interventions.
“This significant investment reaffirms our resolve to ensure no Nigerian is left behind in accessing essential health services,” he said.
“We invite continued partnership, shared learning, and global cooperation to build a healthier, more equitable future for all.”
