Health experts have expressed concern over Nigeria’s persistently low health insurance coverage, warning that millions of citizens remain exposed to financial hardship due to the high cost of medical care.
Speaking at the 21st Annual Scientific Conference and Faculty Gathering of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG), stakeholders called for urgent reforms to healthcare financing, expanded health insurance coverage and the strategic adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.
Delivering the keynote address on “Advancing Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria: Progress, Challenges and Future Directions,” former President of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, Professor Oluwarotimi Akinola, said Nigeria remains far from achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) due to the absence of a sustainable healthcare financing model.
According to Akinola, less than 10 percent of Nigerians are enrolled in health insurance schemes, forcing the majority to rely on out-of-pocket payments for medical services. He noted that repeated illness often leaves families financially devastated as healthcare costs quickly deplete household savings.
He compared Nigeria’s performance with other countries, noting that Ghana has achieved approximately 40 percent health insurance coverage, while China has reached about 95 percent. He argued that Nigeria must adopt a financing model tailored to its unique socio-economic realities if it hopes to make meaningful progress toward universal healthcare.
The healthcare financing expert identified chronic underfunding as one of the greatest obstacles confronting the sector. He said inadequate investment has contributed to poor infrastructure, shortages of skilled personnel, the continued migration of healthcare professionals, industrial disputes and an overreliance on donor support.
Akinola also stressed that improving healthcare requires greater attention to preventive measures and the broader social determinants of health, including access to clean water, sanitation, nutrition, housing and a healthy environment, rather than focusing solely on treating diseases.
While acknowledging the growing role of artificial intelligence in modern medicine, he maintained that technology alone cannot resolve Nigeria’s healthcare challenges without adequate funding and systemic reforms. He said AI has the potential to improve healthcare planning, diagnosis and service delivery when integrated into a functional health system.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Professor Foluso Lesi, described the country’s dependence on out-of-pocket healthcare spending as unsustainable.
She urged government authorities to broaden health insurance coverage to ensure more Nigerians can access affordable and quality healthcare. Ogunsola also encouraged citizens to adopt healthier lifestyles through balanced nutrition, regular physical activity and improved mental well-being as part of efforts to reduce preventable illnesses.
On the use of artificial intelligence, the Vice-Chancellor said the technology has become an important component of modern healthcare, adding that it should be viewed as a tool that complements, rather than replaces, healthcare professionals.
Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Professor Olufemi Fasanmade, highlighted AI’s potential to improve healthcare access, particularly in underserved communities where medical personnel are scarce. He explained that technologies such as telemedicine and remote consultations can enable specialists in urban centres to provide medical support to patients in rural areas.
However, Fasanmade cautioned that the increasing use of AI must be guided by strong ethical standards, especially in areas such as data privacy, patient confidentiality, accountability and diagnostic accuracy.
Similarly, the Provost of the College of Medicine, Professor Ademola Oremosu, represented by Deputy Provost Professor Daniel Odebiyi, encouraged healthcare professionals to embrace AI, describing it as a tool that enhances diagnostic precision while improving the speed and quality of patient care.
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Olasode Akinmokun, also underscored AI’s growing contribution to clinical practice, citing studies indicating that AI-assisted interpretation of medical images, including X-rays, can improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce medical errors.
The conference concluded with renewed calls for increased government investment in healthcare, expanded insurance coverage and responsible integration of emerging technologies as Nigeria works towards achieving Universal Health Coverage and improving health outcomes for its population.
