National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Director-General Kelechi Ohiri has emphasized the need for healthcare innovations in Nigeria to deliver measurable results and protect poor citizens financially. Speaking at the Future of Health Conference 2026, Ohiri stated that health sector reforms must be judged by their impact on patients, particularly indigent citizens who should receive treatment without falling into poverty. He highlighted that success will be measured by practical outcomes, such as a woman recovering from an obstetric complication without falling into health poverty.
Ohiri stressed that Nigeria needs to build a locally responsive health system that addresses its unique priorities, finances care sustainably, and translates innovation into better patient outcomes. He argued that the country must take greater responsibility for determining its healthcare priorities and developing solutions suited to local needs. This approach will enable Nigeria to decrease its reliance on external support and adapt to the changing global health landscape.
The NHIA has taken steps to support research and evaluate new health technologies, committing to fund research focused on local problems. The authority has financed five independent researchers through a competitive process supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Additionally, a process has been established to assess innovative drugs and health interventions to determine which will have the greatest impact on Nigerians.
Ohiri highlighted that Nigeria faces a complex disease burden, with infectious diseases and high maternal mortality persisting alongside a growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Many poor individuals realize they are hypertensive only after their first stroke or discover they have diabetes when reaching end-stage renal disease, making healthcare innovation imperative. The NHIA is working to address these challenges through its research and innovation initiatives.
The 11th edition of the Future of Health Conference, themed "From Innovation to Impact: The Future of Health Is Now," shifts attention from discussing future innovations to examining existing solutions, their impact, and how they can reach more people. Managing director of Nigeria Health Watch, Vivianne Ihekweazu, emphasized that technologies like artificial intelligence must provide immediate solutions for patients who cannot afford to wait years for future developments.
The conference showcases approaches spanning maternal health, family planning, digital health, agriculture, and climate-resilient healthcare facilities. Ohiri noted that the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative is a step towards reforming the sector, requiring an innovation ecosystem capable of testing new approaches, supporting research, and scaling solutions to address specific national challenges.
The NHIA's efforts to support research and innovation in healthcare aim to address the country's complex disease burden and improve patient outcomes. By prioritizing local needs and evaluating the impact of new health technologies, Nigeria can make progress towards achieving its healthcare goals and protecting its most vulnerable citizens. The conference serves as a platform for stakeholders to discuss and share innovative solutions to Nigeria's healthcare challenges.
Key points
- Healthcare innovations in Nigeria must deliver measurable results and protect poor citizens financially.
- Nigeria needs to build a locally responsive health system that addresses its unique priorities and finances care sustainably.
- The country faces a complex disease burden, with infectious diseases and high maternal mortality persisting alongside a growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases.
