The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has called for a national framework to attract private investment in primary healthcare, aiming to improve access to quality healthcare services. This proposal was part of discussions at a pre-summit dialogue organised by NESG and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. The virtual meeting focused on "Powering PHC to UHC: Unlocking Private Sector Partnership" and brought together government officials, healthcare providers, and private-sector operators.
Chairman, House Committee on Health Care Services/Establishments, Dr Amos Mogaji, identified uncertainty over revenue, fragmented regulation, and lengthy government procedures as discouraging private investors from participating in primary healthcare. He proposed a national framework to set out responsibilities of government and private-sector participants in PHC partnerships. Mogaji also suggested an investment and risk-sharing facility to provide greater certainty for investors and reduce risks associated with operating healthcare facilities in underserved areas.
Dr Sade Adebanjo, a member of the NESG Health Policy Commission, highlighted the significant role of private operators in healthcare service delivery, accounting for 60-70% of services in Nigeria. She emphasized that the country cannot achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) without better collaboration with private healthcare providers. Adebanjo described primary healthcare as the foundation of healthcare in Nigeria, but noted that inadequate financing, shortages of healthcare workers, and poor infrastructure affect its ability to serve communities.
Dr Nkata Chuku, Deputy Director, Health Systems Strengthening and Primary Healthcare at the Gates Foundation, stressed the need for government to take ownership of public-private partnership projects from the beginning. He suggested that government involvement from the design stage and throughout implementation would ensure sustainability. Chuku also recommended clearer arrangements for paying healthcare providers, including strategic purchasing systems to protect vulnerable Nigerians from excessive out-of-pocket spending.
Dr Ifunanya Ilodibe, Chief Executive Officer of EHA Clinics, emphasized the importance of health insurance in sustaining private investment in primary healthcare. She noted that low insurance coverage, dependence on direct patient payments, and delayed reimbursement make it difficult for providers to maintain services in underserved areas. Ilodibe called for wider health insurance coverage, particularly among Nigerians in the informal sector, to provide predictable patient numbers and revenue for healthcare providers.
Dr Ben Nkechika, Managing Director of Almond Healthcare Services Limited, suggested that the private sector's role in primary healthcare should go beyond being contractors. He proposed that private companies could contribute to health education, community mobilisation, and advocacy. The NESG's proposals aim to address the challenges facing primary healthcare in Nigeria and improve access to quality healthcare services.
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group's push for private investment in primary healthcare aims to address the significant challenges facing the sector. With private operators already accounting for 60-70% of healthcare services, collaboration with the private sector is crucial to achieving Universal Health Coverage. The proposed national framework and investment and risk-sharing facility are expected to provide greater certainty for investors and improve the quality of healthcare services in Nigeria.
Key points
- NESG proposes a national framework for public-private partnerships in primary healthcare
- Private operators account for 60-70% of healthcare services in Nigeria
- Health insurance is crucial to sustaining private investment in primary healthcare
