Data accuracy and private-sector involvement have been identified as the needed boost required to deliver effective healthcare delivery in Nigeria, health experts have said.
At the just concluded 2024 Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) annual conference in Lagos, stakeholders said that access to well research data will help government plan and allocate needed investment into health which would drive better affordable healthcare delivery.
They also said that increasing the role that the private sector plays in healthcare service delivery, will help Nigerians access quality healthcare at affordable prices.
According to them, countries that have embraced private sector involvement in healthcare delivery have been able to unlock the innovative power of such sector thereby, creating transparency and accountability that translate to efficient and effective healthcare delivery services.
“Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can expedite the development and upkeep of healthcare infrastructure,” said Tayo Aduloju, CEO of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
He said private sector providers can introduce innovative technologies, improve management practices, and implement cost controls, leading to a more efficient healthcare system.
Aduloju pointed out that Nigeria’s high out-of-pocket healthcare spending hinders risk pool development and discourages private investment.
He said out-of-pocket payments are the least efficient and inclusive financing method.
Speaking on the theme ‘Harnessing Private Sector Solutions for Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria,’ Aduloju explained that PPP can reduce wait times and increase healthcare service availability in underserved areas.
He added that PPP can bolster public sector capacity by leveraging private sector expertise, experience, and efficiency.
“Private partners can also shoulder some financial and operational risks, shielding governments from cost overruns,” he said.
Nicole Spieker, CEO of PharmAccess Foundation, said healthcare insurance should be seen as a social business that requires collaboration between public and private sectors.
She urged stakeholders to explore ways to involve businesses and banks in healthcare investment, pointing out that technology has the potential to promote UHC in Nigeria.
“Private health insurers need capital to expand, and the use of technology can create services for lower-income groups,” Spieker said.
Tinuola Akinbolagbe, managing director of the PSHAN, said her firm plays a vital role in promoting private sector involvement in healthcare delivery, considering its contribution to over 70 percent of Nigerian healthcare.
Akinbolagbe said the government needs to use accurate, research-backed data to guide informed decisions.
Iyadunni Olubode, director of Nigeria programmes for MSD, said 60 percent of Nigerians access healthcare through the private sector.
According to her, the public sector alone cannot meet Nigerians’ healthcare needs.
“Collaboration between public and private sectors in a mixed health system is the only way to achieve UHC in Nigeria,” Olubode said.
She said the private sector brings innovation, efficiency, access, and sometimes investment and they need support.
“The private sector needs access to financing to deliver the desired healthcare. Just as citizens need financing on the demand side, healthcare is a business requiring financing on the supply side as well,” she added.
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