Nigeria's Healthcare System Urgently Needs Overhaul

Nigeria's health sector is facing a grave crisis, underscored by recent industrial actions from resident doctors over unresolved welfare and systemic issues. The timing of these disruptions during World Health Day serves as a stark indicator of the precarious state of healthcare delivery across the nation.

This year's World Health Day, observed on April 7 with the theme 'Together for Health: Stand with Science,' provided a crucial moment to reflect on the condition of Nigeria's health infrastructure. The core of the current crisis stems from a prolonged failure to establish a functional and accessible primary healthcare system. In rural and semi-urban areas, where the majority of the population resides, essential health services are often weak or nonexistent. Primary healthcare centres (PHCs), intended as the initial point of contact for medical care, are largely non-operational. Many are merely names on a map, suffering from severe understaffing, inadequate equipment, and an inability to provide even basic medical services.

The ramifications of this neglect are dire, leading to millions of Nigerians succumbing to treatable and preventable diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, and complications from insufficient antenatal care. For countless individuals, accessing even the most fundamental healthcare remains an elusive goal. This situation is not merely an infrastructural deficit; it represents a significant governance failure across all levels of government.

Successive administrations have seemingly relinquished their responsibility for primary healthcare, leaving international bodies like the World Health Organisation, non-governmental organisations, and local communities to maintain what should be a fundamental public service. This has resulted in a skewed system where patients bypass PHCs and crowd into secondary and tertiary facilities, placing immense strain on already under-resourced institutions.

This imbalance has significantly exacerbated the brain drain within the health sector. Facing poor working conditions, outdated infrastructure, and inconsistent payment, a large number of Nigerian healthcare professionals are seeking opportunities abroad, further weakening an already overstretched system.

Globally, healthcare is acknowledged as a vital social service that governments are obligated to provide or heavily subsidize. Even in many developing economies, healthcare access is prioritized as indispensable for national progress and social stability. In Nigeria, however, such a commitment often appears to be largely declarative.

Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's announcement of the removal of the petrol subsidy in 2023, it was stated that the resulting savings would be directed towards critical sectors like health. However, several years later, there is minimal concrete evidence to suggest that the health sector has experienced significant benefits from this policy change.

Instead, the sector continues to be afflicted by recurring labour disputes. These disputes have become a predictable occurrence, frequently leading to the paralysis of services in public hospitals, which cater to the majority of Nigerians.

Beyond these immediate causes, a more fundamental issue persists: chronic underfunding. In 2001, Nigeria committed to the Abuja Declaration on Health Financing, agreeing to allocate at least 15% of its national budget to health. More than two decades on, this target remains unmet.

Recent budget allocations paint a concerning picture. In 2023, approximately N1.17 trillion was earmarked for health, constituting about five to six percent of the national budget. This increased to N1.33 trillion in 2024, still below six percent. By 2025, the allocation rose to N2.48 trillion, representing just over five percent.

Health experts have consistently cautioned that these funding levels are insufficient, particularly when adjusted for inflation, population growth, and the nation's escalating disease burden. The implication is clear: Nigeria is not adequately investing in the health of its citizens.

Against this backdrop, reports of government officials travelling abroad to acquire air ambulances raise valid questions about national priorities. While such assets might have a role, they do little to address the immediate and pressing needs of ordinary Nigerians struggling to access basic medical attention. In many parts of the country, even standard ambulances are scarce, forcing communities to rely on self-help initiatives to equip their health centres.

This disparity reinforces a long-standing perception that Nigerian health policies are frequently designed for the elite, benefiting a select few while the majority contend with inadequate and inaccessible services. This is a perception that the government must urgently seek to rectify.

At Daily Trust, we believe the path forward is both straightforward and achievable. It requires dedicated and continuous investment in primary and secondary healthcare. PHCs must be revitalized, adequately staffed, and equipped to handle common health issues and preventive care. Secondary facilities need strengthening to offer more advanced services without becoming overburdened. This does not negate the need for investment in tertiary institutions; rather, it calls for a balanced approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of all healthcare levels.

Crucially, healthcare must be made affordable. A system where citizens face financial hardship to treat basic illnesses is neither sustainable nor equitable. Ensuring universal access to quality healthcare is not merely a policy choice but a moral and developmental imperative.

As Nigeria marked this year's World Health Day alongside the global community, the central message should be unambiguous: the health of the populace must take precedence over grand projects and policy statements. The era of mere rhetoric is over; what is now required is decisive, sustained, and people- centric action.