The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, says the absence of financial risk protection; low budgetary allocation, inadequate and untimely releases of appropriated funds, and lack of constitutional responsibility on health to the tiers of government are factors responsible for poor delivery of essential health service in Nigeria.
This, they said, challenges the Global Health Agenda 2030, which is designed by the WHO to provide for strong political commitment to public health by promoting physical and mental health and well-being of citizens.
The Director-General NIPSS, Brig General Udaya (rtd), who disclosed this at the ongoing 61st annual general conference and delegates meetings of the Nigerian Medical Association, said NIPSS’s course 41 studies on Universal Health coverage supported by the development Research and Projects Centre identified the major challenges facing healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The DG revealed that other of the challenges are, no clear allocation of constitutional responsibility on health to any tier of government leading to confusion, overlap, duplication and inefficiency in funding universal healthcare delivery, high burden of high out-of-pocket expenditure, inadequate health insurance coverage, and disproportionate focus on funding curative rather than preventive health services.
He, therefore, disclosed NIPSS’s recommendations that include, all tiers of government should expand the revenue base for funding universal healthcare delivery, which should consist of introducing a levy of one kobo per second on all out-going GSM calls for funding universal healthcare delivery, the Federal Government of Nigeria should amend the Constitution to specify roles for the three tiers of government in healthcare, and for governments at all levels to make health insurance mandatory for all citizens and legal residents among others.
The Director-General then commended the Nigerian Medical Association and urged them to continue advocating for improved healthcare and adequate funding of the health sector, especially now that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed our vulnerability in the sector.
Hundreds of NMA members have converged on Jos, Plateau State capital, for the 61st conference and delegates meeting. This year’s conference has the theme of “Nigeria and the Global Health Agenda 2030”.
