Two years after President Bola Tinubu assumed office, Nigeria’s health sector remains fragile despite several reforms and policy initiatives under his “Renewed Hope” agenda. While efforts have been made to improve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), expand insurance, and address workforce issues, the sector continues to face chronic underfunding, infrastructure deficits, workforce shortages, recurring disease outbreaks, and unreliable power supply in hospitals.
Tinubu’s vision, as laid out in his manifesto, aimed to increase health insurance coverage to 40% of Nigerians, revitalise primary healthcare centres (PHCs), and tackle the healthcare brain drain. Initiatives such as the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), launched in December 2023, have mobilised over $2.2 billion in external funding and focus on improving reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health by upgrading 17,000 PHCs.
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has recorded growth in insurance enrolment, increasing from 16.7 million to 20 million in one year, surpassing 2025 targets, yet only about 19% of Nigerians currently have health insurance, highlighting the need for expanded coverage.
Funding remains a major hurdle. Although the 2025 health budget nearly doubled to N2.48 trillion, it still falls short of the Abuja Declaration target of 15% of the national budget. This gap raises concerns about the sector’s ability to sustain improvements and reduce reliance on foreign aid.
Workforce shortages are acute, with over 16,000 doctors emigrating in the last five to seven years and a doctor-to-population ratio below WHO standards. Despite training initiatives and the introduction of a National Policy on Health Workforce Migration, poor working conditions and low pay drive many health professionals abroad, exacerbating the crisis.
Recurring outbreaks of diseases such as diphtheria, cholera, and Lassa fever continue to test Nigeria’s healthcare system. Limited immunisation coverage and weak Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures contribute to high mortality rates. Although Nigeria pioneered new vaccines like MenFive meningitis and the Oxford R21 malaria vaccine, routine immunisation coverage remains low, with millions of children unvaccinated.
Systemic issues such as unstable electricity supply in major hospitals and inflation in drug prices further hamper healthcare delivery. Experts recommend tariff reductions on medical imports and increased investment in infrastructure and health worker welfare to stem these problems.
Despite these challenges, signs of progress include government policies to retain healthcare workers, expand local pharmaceutical production, improve health training, and programmes such as free cesarean sections aimed at reducing maternal mortality.
For lasting impact, experts call for increased budget allocations, practical solutions to retain health professionals, infrastructure upgrades, and stronger implementation of universal health coverage to ensure accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare for Nigerians.
Swifteradio.com
