The Nigeria Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Forum has called on political parties and governments to prioritize health insurance for poor and vulnerable Nigerians, effective budget implementation, and improved management of health workers ahead of the 2027 general elections. This was stated at a Stakeholder Policy Engagement Workshop in Abuja, themed “Leveraging 2027 Election to Advance Nigeria’s UHC Quest.” The Forum aims to develop a clear health agenda and present it to political parties and candidates.
The Chief Executive Officer of DGI Consult and co-convener of the Nigeria UHC Forum, Dr. Abdulgafar Alawode, emphasized the need for policies that have produced measurable improvements in some states and can be replicated across the country. He cited Delta State as an example, which has achieved about 50 percent health insurance coverage, particularly for poor and vulnerable residents. The Forum seeks to encourage other states to follow suit.
Effective implementation of health budgets is critical to improving health outcomes, according to Dr. Alawode. Some states have achieved 80 to 90 percent budget execution, while others struggle with implementation. Increasing health allocations alone will not solve Nigeria's healthcare challenges without deliberate decisions on how funds are spent. The Forum is pushing for improved budget execution to ensure that allocated funds are used effectively.
The depletion of the health workforce and inadequate tracking of personnel remain major challenges requiring urgent attention. Dr. Alawode called for improved management of human resources for health, including the establishment of reliable data on health workers across states. Digital systems can improve the management of health workers by providing reliable information on their numbers, skills, and deployment.
At the national level, the government is urged to explore innovative financing mechanisms, particularly health-related taxes, to generate additional resources for universal health coverage. However, additional revenue must be deliberately channeled into healthcare. The Forum is advocating for a comprehensive approach to healthcare financing to ensure that resources are used effectively.
The Forum's Executive Director, Moji Makanjuola, recalled its interventions ahead of the 2023 elections, including the development of a Citizens-Led Health Agenda and engagements with political actors and governors. However, its engagement was concentrated largely on the period before the 2023 election and was not sufficiently sustained afterwards. The Forum has learned from this experience and plans to engage with political parties and candidates before, during, and after the 2027 elections.
The objective of the Forum's engagement is to ensure that health priorities are reflected in political parties' manifestos and that measurable health commitments are made. The Forum seeks to ensure that the outcome of its engagement does not "just lie in the files" but translates into concrete actions. The Forum's efforts aim to improve healthcare outcomes for all Nigerians, particularly the poor and vulnerable.
Key points
- The Nigeria UHC Forum is pushing for health insurance for poor and vulnerable Nigerians, improved budget execution, and better management of health workers ahead of the 2027 elections.
- The Forum cites Delta State as an example of a state that has achieved significant health insurance coverage, particularly for poor and vulnerable residents.
- The Forum plans to engage with political parties and candidates before, during, and after the 2027 elections to ensure that health priorities are reflected in their manifestos.
