The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to reform Nigeria’s health sector through the National Health Sector Renewal Initiative (NHSRII) and the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint 2024-2027.
These initiatives aim to tackle systemic challenges that have long plagued the country’s healthcare system.
National coordinator of the Sector-Wide Coordinating Office – T Programme Management Unit (SCO-PMU), Dr. Muntaqa Sadiq disclosed these details in an interview with Science Nigeria in Abuja. He explained that the new framework addresses issues such as inadequate infrastructure, healthcare professional shortages and poor financing.
“This plan follows alarming reports that highlight how far Nigeria falls short of global health standards,” Sadiq noted, citing the Nigeria State of Health Fact Pack 2023, which revealed that the country has only 0.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people. This figure is far below the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendation of 4 beds per 1,000 people. Moreover, 50 per cent of X-ray machines in government hospitals are non-functional and Nigeria has only 23.3 doctors per 100,000 people—significantly below WHO’s guideline of 100 doctors per 100,000.
The government is addressing these structural and systemic challenges through NHSRII, which aims to leverage private-sector partnerships and international development partners to close the gaps. “Our goal is to improve health outcomes for all Nigerians through this initiative,” Sadiq said.
At the core of NHSRII is the sector-wide approach (SWAp), a management framework designed to streamline coordination between federal, state and local governments. This framework emphasises “One Plan, One Budget, One Report and One Conversation,” aligning efforts across all stakeholders to meet shared health priorities.
Key actions under this initiative include expanding primary healthcare centres (PHCs) and ensuring that each local government area (LGA) has at least one comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care (CEmONC) facility. The blueprint also seeks to address fragmented and inefficient health supply chains, which currently result in stock-outs for 41 per cent of family planning commodities. By streamlining procurement systems, the government expects to see a reduction in stock-outs and a more reliable supply of essential medicines.
Human resource development is another top priority. Sadiq highlighted plans to improve healthcare worker training through digital solutions and public-private partnerships. This will help address the acute shortage of medical professionals. Additionally, the initiative includes a plan to rehabilitate 17,600 PHCs and equip healthcare centres with climate-resilient infrastructure, supported by a $1.57 billion facility from the World Bank.
The private sector also plays a pivotal role in this blueprint, contributing to the expansion of digital health services, data reporting, and local pharmaceutical production. “Their involvement in training healthcare workers and producing critical supplies like vaccines will drive the necessary changes,” Sadiq explained.
Another key element of the blueprint is expanding health insurance coverage, particularly for the most vulnerable, through mechanisms such as third-party administrators (TPAs). This effort aims to provide financial protection to underserved populations.
The Health Sector Strategic Blueprint 2024-2027 outlines 13 priority areas, including improving maternal, newborn, and child health; accelerating immunisation programmes and reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In addition to federal initiatives, state governments have committed to supporting these strategies through their participation in the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), which allocates 1 per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to primary healthcare services.
“This collaborative approach ensures that we build a resilient, effective and sustainable healthcare system for all Nigerians,” Sadiq said.
As Nigeria embarks on this transformative journey, the NHSRII promises to address systemic failures and improve health outcomes for millions of Nigerians. The government’s vision is clear: to ensure that every citizen has access to quality healthcare, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status.
