Stakeholders in Nigeria’s health sector have emphasised the need for innovative strategies, effective governance, and sustainable financing to achieve the country’s healthcare transformation goals under the 4-Point Agenda.
These insights were shared during a webinar hosted by Nigeria Health Watch, themed “Accelerating Implementation of Nigeria’s Four-Point Agenda for Health Sector Transformation.”
The agenda, described as a transformative framework, seeks to address systemic healthcare challenges while advancing progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Science Nigeria reports that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s 4-Point Health Agenda typically focuses on these key areas:
- Ensuring Universal Health Coverage (UHC):
- Equitable access to essential health services for all Nigerians.
- Reduction of out-of-pocket expenses to remove financial barriers to care.
- Improving the Quality of Health Services:
- Enhancing efficiency and effectiveness across all levels of the healthcare system, from primary to tertiary care.
- Strengthening Health Security:
- Building a resilient health system capable of preventing, detecting and responding to emerging threats such as epidemics and pandemics.
- Promoting Health and Wellness:
- Strategies focused on healthy lifestyles, improved nutrition and disease prevention, including maternal and child health, communicable and non-communicable diseases and mental health.
Speaking at the event, director of health planning, research and statistics at the Federal Ministry of Health, reflected on Nigeria’s history of health development plans. He highlighted the agenda’s focus areas: effective governance, quality health systems, unlocking the healthcare value chain and health security.
Shoretire noted the adoption of innovative strategies such as the sector-wide approach (SWAp), revitalisation of primary healthcare centres, healthcare industrialisation, and the use of innovative financing mechanisms like health bonds and diaspora funds to close funding gaps.
President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Dr. Pamela Ajayi spotlighted progress in local manufacturing and supply chain optimisation, supported by the Executive Order aimed at reducing costs and boosting investment in local healthcare manufacturing.
Ajayi stressed the critical role of the health sector in driving economic growth and development, stating, “The health sector is not a drain; it is a viable and very important part of the growth of the economy. Development of our local manufacturing sectors goes a long way in supporting this transformation.”
She also highlighted the importance of collaboration and investment in unlocking the healthcare value chain to strengthen the sector’s contributions to the economy.
National coordinator of SWAp, Dr. Muntaqa Sadiq explained how the approach addresses cross-cutting health system issues by enhancing ownership, aligning support with government priorities, and ensuring cost-effectiveness and sustainability.
Sadiq also emphasised the role of digital tools in making health insurance more accessible and affordable for all Nigerians.
Similarly, Nigeria country manager at Results for Development, Dr. Felix Obi encouraged state and local governments to actively contribute to the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to guarantee equitable access to quality health services.
Obi praised the National Health Insurance Authority Act for mandating health insurance, calling it a significant step toward providing financial risk protection for vulnerable populations.
Meanwhile, director of programmes at Nigeria Health Watch, Dr. Kemisola Agbaoye described the 4-point agenda as a reform blueprint, emphasising its potential to foster collaboration, address implementation challenges, and drive impactful solutions for a healthier Nigeria.
Science Nigeria further reports that the event featured insights from the Health Intelligence Report and Community-Based Perception Survey, which highlighted progress and areas needing improvement in achieving sustainable healthcare reforms.
Stakeholders collectively underscored the urgency of accelerating efforts to implement the Four-Point Agenda. They called on governments at all levels to prioritise health sector funding and ensure the timely disbursement of resources.
Private sector partners and civil society organisations were encouraged to deepen collaborations and invest in innovative strategies to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery.
Additionally, the public was urged to actively engage with health initiatives and advocate for improved accountability from policymakers.
Together, these efforts are crucial to achieving equitable access to quality healthcare and meeting Nigeria’s UHC goals.
As Agbaoye aptly stated, “We are at a transformative moment in Nigeria’s health sector and now is the time for all stakeholders to step up and play their part in building a healthier future for all Nigerians.”
