The Federal Government of Nigeria is assessing the effectiveness of its health financing as high out-of-pocket medical expenses continue to burden Nigerian households. Despite releasing N235bn through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund over three years, many families still face heavy medical bills. The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) disclosed this ahead of the inaugural Nigeria Health Financing Research & Learning Forum.
The NHIA reported that health insurance enrolment has risen to over 23 million, but out-of-pocket expenditure remains high, leaving many families exposed to heavy medical bills. The authority emphasized the importance of ensuring that growing health investments deliver measurable results. The forum will bring together policymakers, researchers, and health financing experts to examine how limited resources can be deployed more effectively.
The two-day forum, themed "Evidence and Learning for Nigeria's Health Financing Future: Building a Locally Led Research and Learning Ecosystem," aims to strengthen the use of evidence in deciding which treatments and services should receive funding. It will focus on how healthcare providers should be paid and where limited resources can have the greatest impact. The meeting is part of the Federal Government's broader health reform programme.
The health reform programme, coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare under Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, focuses on expanding access to healthcare, strengthening financial protection, and improving patient outcomes. The programme seeks to secure better value from health investments. The forum will examine how research and health data can be translated into practical financing decisions.
The NHIA and collaborating organizations, including the Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation, Nigeria Health Watch, and the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, will discuss Health Technology Assessment. This assessment determines whether medicines, treatments, and other health interventions provide sufficient benefits to justify their costs. The authority has already conducted assessments on kidney replacement therapy and cancer treatments.
Experts from Nigeria and other countries, including Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Prof. John Ataguba, and Prof. Justice Nonvignon, will attend the forum. They will identify gaps in available evidence and strengthen the connection between research, financing decisions, and measurable improvements in patient care. The overall objective is to strengthen the use of evidence in health financing decisions.
The Federal Government aims to ensure that increased spending produces tangible improvements in healthcare delivery and provides greater financial protection for Nigerians. The forum's outcomes are expected to inform policy decisions and improve health financing in Nigeria. The NHIA and partners are driving this initiative to enhance the effectiveness of health investments and reduce the financial burden on households.
Key points
- The Nigerian government has released N235bn through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund over three years.
- Health insurance enrolment in Nigeria has risen to over 23 million.
- The government aims to strengthen the use of evidence in health financing decisions.
