Recently, the Honorable Minister of Health claimed that patients from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada patronize Nigeria for quality healthcare. I recognize that Nigeria has made significant progress in improving secondary and tertiary healthcare services. I am also aware that there are very good private hospitals in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos, that provide internationally standardized high-quality tertiary care, including kidney transplants, heart surgeries, and the management of complex cases such as cancer.
Based on this, I do not argue with the minister about foreigners coming to Nigeria for high-quality care. After all, many of them may prefer Nigeria for medical treatment because of lower costs, high-quality personalized care, and reduced waiting times. In the UK, US, or Canada, patients sometimes wait for months for an elective procedure after paying thousands of dollars.
While these improvements in tertiary healthcare are commendable, we must take a closer look at our primary healthcare system. Primary care is the cornerstone of every healthcare system, covering about 80% of our healthcare needs. It includes health education, vaccinations, environmental sanitation, nutrition awareness, disease prevention and control, provision of essential drugs, and maternal and child healthcare services. It also includes comprehensive emergency maternal services, which are crucial for reducing maternal and infant mortality.
However, while we celebrate foreigners patronizing our tertiary healthcare facilities, the majority of Nigerians still struggle to access basic primary healthcare services. Many PHC centers across the country lack essential infrastructure, trained health personnel, and basic medical supplies. Women in rural areas often have no choice but to give birth at home without skilled birth attendants. Preventable diseases like malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia continue to claim lives due to the unavailability of timely and affordable care.
Recommendations for Strengthening Nigeria’s Primary Healthcare System
To address these critical gaps, the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with state ministries of health should implement the following measures to improve primary healthcare across the country:
- Prioritize PHC Funding and Infrastructure Development
~ Increase budgetary allocations to PHC under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
~ Upgrade existing PHC centers with essential medical equipment, clean water, electricity (solar power where necessary), and improved supply chain management for essential drugs. - Scale Up Community Health Worker (CHW) Programs
~ Expand the training, recruitment, and deployment of Community Health Workers (CHWs) to underserved and rural areas.
~ Provide CHWs with necessary tools, incentives, and continuous professional development to improve service delivery. - Leverage Digital Health and Telemedicine
~ Invest in digital health technologies to facilitate remote consultations, patient monitoring, and specialist referrals, especially in rural areas.
~ Strengthen the implementation of the National Health Information System for better data collection, monitoring, and evaluation of PHC performance. - Enhance Maternal and Child Health Services
~ Strengthen emergency obstetric care at PHC levels by equipping facilities with trained midwives, essential drugs, and mobile emergency transport services.
~ Expand immunization programs and integrate nutrition services into routine PHC activities to combat malnutrition. - Improve Health Workforce Distribution and Retention
~ Address the uneven distribution of healthcare workers by offering incentives such as rural hardship allowances, housing support, and career development opportunities for those working in underserved areas.
~ Strengthen training and capacity-building programs for nurses, midwives, and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs). - Expand Health Insurance Coverage for Vulnerable Populations
~ Accelerate the implementation of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) scheme to ensure universal health coverage, particularly for the poor and those in informal sectors.
~ Encourage state governments to roll out state-supported health insurance programs. - Strengthen Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in PHC
~ Engage private sector stakeholders, NGOs, and development partners to co-fund PHC revitalization projects.
~ Promote innovative financing models, such as social impact bonds, to sustain PHC services. - Enhance Health Education and Preventive Care
~ Promote community-based health education initiatives to raise awareness on hygiene, sanitation, nutrition, and disease prevention.
~ Implement policies that support clean water access, proper waste disposal, and environmental sanitation to prevent disease outbreaks.
It is time to shift our focus from celebrating foreign patients in our hospitals to ensuring that every Nigerian no matter their income level or location can access quality and affordable primary healthcare.
Muhammad Saddiq
CEO, Rural Health Mission Nigeria
07/02/2025