By David T. Moge, Faith Igwe-uzor, Pharm Estelle Mbadiwe, Chinonso Vincent – Fri. 24 Feb 2023. 7:18 GMT +1
HOW FUTURE-PROOF IS THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN NIGERIA?
BACKGROUND:
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, faces significant challenges in delivering quality healthcare to its population. The country has one of the highest maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the world, with many deaths attributed to preventable causes such as poor access to quality healthcare, lack of clean water, and inadequate infrastructure. In light of this, the question remains: how can Nigeria future-proof its healthcare system to meet the needs of its growing population?
CURRENT STATUS / WHAT DOES THE DATA SAY? (AFRICAN CONTEXT):
The Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies and Future Proofing Healthcare experts conducted a survey from 2014 – 2022, to check key performance indicators among 18 African countries. See below the sustainability ranking across Africa.
Table 1: Sustainability ranking across Africa
(Source: Nigeria Sustainability Index | Future Proofing Healthcare)
The conclusion drawn from this survey is that there is a strong variation in access and quality of vital signs. A clear positive correlation exists between economic strength, political stability, and the sustainability of a healthcare system. Findings suggest that policies that prioritize access and quality are needed to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals. Data is paramount for safe and quality health care delivery.
The survey found that while Nigeria has some of the key components needed for a sustainable healthcare system, there is still much room for improvement. The country ranks 14th out of 18 surveyed countries, with a score of 10th position in equitable access to and coverage of healthcare to those who need it and 17th position in offering uninterrupted quality-assured services quality is informed by the below measures. Nigeria ranked 18th position making it the country with the highest maternal mortality.
(Source: Nigeria Sustainability Index | Future Proofing Healthcare)
The survey found that while Nigeria has some of the key components needed for a sustainable healthcare system, there is still much room for improvement. The country ranks 14th out of 18 surveyed countries, with a score of 10th position in equitable access to and coverage of healthcare to those who need it and 17th position in offering uninterrupted quality-assured services quality is informed by the below measures. Nigeria ranked 18th position making it the country with the highest maternal mortality.
Fig 1: Nigeria ranks amongst other African countries.
(Source: Nigeria Sustainability Index | Future Proofing Healthcare)
CHALLENGES OR GAPS:
There are several challenges that contribute to the poor healthcare system in Nigeria, they include:
Low equitable access to and coverage of healthcare for those who need it.
Lack of financial support is influenced by corruption levels, government proportion of health expenditure, and health expenditure per capita.
Shortage of healthcare personnel.
High death rates from communicable diseases, suicides, malaria etc.
Low uninterrupted quality-assured services such as access to effective treatment for tuberculosis, maternal mortality etc.
External factors such as social, economic and political determinants impact health outcomes
See below one of the metrics contributing to Nigeria’s poor healthcare system.
Fig 2: Overall health status of the Nigeria population
(Source: Nigeria Sustainability Index | Future Proofing Healthcare)
PROGRESS OR NEW INSIGHTS:
Nigeria’s Healthcare system has key strengths, including a robust response to emerging health threats like COVID-19 and high testing rates for drug-resistant tuberculosis. Access to medical services is also relatively easy for Nigerians compared to other African countries. However, the country still faces significant health challenges, with high mortality rates from communicable diseases including water-borne illness and diarrhoeal diseases malaria and viral hepatitis. Addressing gaps in neonatal care and healthcare personnel, as well as issues like political instability and low literacy rates, could help improve health outcomes for Nigerians.
Fig 3: Life score impact
(Source: Nigeria Sustainability Index | Future Proofing Healthcare)
WHAT’S THE WAY FORWARD FOR NIGERIA?
One priority for Nigeria is improving neonatal care, given the high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality. This can be achieved through increased investment in training programs for healthcare workers, expanding access to medical equipment, and improving the availability of medications for treating common neonatal health conditions.
To futureproof its healthcare system, Nigeria must prioritize policies that improve access and quality, in addition to addressing systemic issues such as financing and innovation, including:
Collaboration and exchange of best practices can help overcome some of these structural financial barriers.
Potential for progress in Innovation.
A favorable policy and legal environment, new technology adoption, and sharing of experiences among countries can help improve innovation in African health systems.
Improving healthcare infrastructure and increasing the number of healthcare personnel is crucial for the success of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Additionally, improving access to clean water and addressing political instability and adult gender literacy gaps can help improve the health of the Nigerian population.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, while Nigeria has made progress in responding to emerging health threats and providing healthcare services, there is still much work to be done to future-proof its healthcare system. Prioritizing policies that improve access and quality, addressing financing and innovation challenges, improving healthcare infrastructure, and increasing the number of healthcare personnel are critical steps towards achieving Universal Health Coverage goals and improving the health of the Nigerian population.
REFERENCES:
https://www.futureproofinghealthcare.com/en/nigeria-sustainability-index#financing
