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Nigeria Urged to Increase Public Health Spending to 20% to Boost Health System

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on Nigeria to increase its public health spending to at least 20% of total health expenditure to strengthen its health system. The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Prof. Mohammed Yakub Janabi, emphasized that sustainable financing is the backbone of resilient health systems. Nigeria's population of over 223 million citizens makes its health financing crucial not only for its people's well-being but also for the future of the continent.

Key Takeaways:

  • The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Prof. Mohammed Yakub Janabi, called on Nigeria to increase its public health spending to at least 20% of total health expenditure to boost its health system.
  • The WHO emphasized that sustainable financing is the backbone of resilient health systems, and Nigeria's population of over 223 million citizens makes its health financing crucial for the continent's future.
  • Prof. Janabi commended Nigeria's leadership in health financing reform, citing the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, the National Health Insurance Authority Act, and the expansion of state-level insurance schemes as steps in the right direction.
  • The WHO Regional Director also emphasized the need to reduce out-of-pocket payments, strengthen pooling and prepayment mechanisms, and use evidence-based decision-making to guide fair and informed decision-making.
  • The Global Fund Representative, Maria Kirova, pledged the organization's support for Nigeria's health financing efforts and commended the Nigerian government for convening the dialogue and for its bold steps to strengthen health financing and advance towards universal health coverage.
  • The Global Fund has been working closely with the Nigerian government, national agencies, and implementing organizations to support initiatives such as health insurance in 5 states, oxygen therapy, national supply chain strengthening, and investments in primary healthcare revitalization.
  • The African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, Amb. Amma Adomaah Twum-Amoah, called on Nigeria to take a leadership role in health financing, citing the country's potential to drive progress across the continent.
  • Twum-Amoah noted that domestic health financing plays a vital role in achieving sustainable development, and that the African Union is poised to play a key role in promoting health equity and Universal Health Coverage globally.

Statistics:

  • Nigeria's population: over 223 million citizens (Source: Prof. Mohammed Yakub Janabi)
  • Public health spending urged to be at least 20% of total health expenditure (Source: WHO Regional Director for Africa, Prof. Mohammed Yakub Janabi)
  • $1.7 billion approved for the HOPE Projects to strengthen governance, expand primary healthcare, and improve nationwide service delivery (Source: African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, Amb. Amma Adomaah Twum-Amoah)
  • 2001 Abuja Declaration and 2013 Abuja+12 Declaration committed Member States to allocating at least 15% of national budgets to health (Source: African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, Amb. Amma Adomaah Twum-Amoah)

Sources:

  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • Prof. Mohammed Yakub Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa
  • Maria Kirova, Global Fund Representative
  • African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, Amb. Amma Adomaah Twum-Amoah

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