Nigeria must prioritize strengthening its social safety nets, investing in human capital, and improving healthcare quality to transform its underperforming health system, according to Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
“There’s a pressing need for policies that reduce infant mortality, lower out-of-pocket health expenses, and stimulate private sector reforms to unlock the country’s full healthcare potential,” Ohiri stated.
He emphasized that such progress is only possible through comprehensive efforts to bolster safety nets, enhance workforce capacity, and raise the standard of care.
Currently, nearly one million Nigerians fall into poverty each year due to healthcare-related costs, while the country loses over $2 billion annually to medical tourism, he added.
