This archive report was first published on 12 October 2021.
With a population of over 200 million people, Nigeria is a land of opportunities, but its healthcare system is in dire need of improvement. Despite its vast human capital and resources, the country has struggled to meet the 15% of the national budget allocated for healthcare, and the total number of health facilities is less than 30,000.
According to Jayesh Saini, the healthcare industry in Nigeria is not as developed as it should be, given the country's population and resources. Over 70% of health payments are made out of pocket, as many Nigerians do not have health insurance covers, leaving them vulnerable to extreme poverty.
There is a pressing need for maternal healthcare, modern diagnostic services, and tertiary care facilities that can provide diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases such as cancers, heart diseases, and lifestyle diseases. Effective health insurance schemes should be introduced at both public and private levels to ensure coverage for the most vulnerable people.
Interestingly, many Nigerians seek medical attention from secondary and tertiary facilities, rather than primary healthcare facilities, due to poor services, lack of equipment, and unmaintained buildings. This trend is attributed to the perception that primary healthcare facilities are not equipped to provide the necessary care.
One-stop diagnostic centers are well-received by the people, and those who access them are willing to pay for the convenience of receiving the required services. The country is encouraging greater participation of the private sector in building a better healthcare system, but it is also facing a brain drain, with doctors and nurses leaving the country for greener pastures.
