Nigeria spends an average of $120 per capita on healthcare annually, with only about $30 provided by government funding, while the remaining bulk is covered through out-of-pocket payments by citizens.
This was disclosed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, during the opening of the National Health Financing Dialogue held in Abuja on Monday. The event, themed “Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria,” brought together policymakers, development partners, and health experts to examine the country’s health financing challenges.
Pate warned that the current imbalance in healthcare funding leaves millions of vulnerable Nigerians exposed to financial hardship whenever they fall ill. He stressed that the overreliance on household spending undermines access to quality healthcare and pushes many families into poverty.
The Minister emphasized the need for Nigeria to mobilize resources more effectively, improve health insurance coverage, and increase public sector investments in health. According to him, sustainable financing is critical to strengthening the health system and ensuring universal access to care.
Stakeholders at the dialogue echoed the Minister’s concerns, highlighting that stronger collaboration between government, the private sector, and international partners is necessary to close the financing gap and improve health outcomes.
