Key Points

• Stronger health insurance will give Nigerians better access to care.

• Nigeria’s hospitals need sustainable funding to maintain quality service.

• Lagos plans to link public services to health insurance compliance.

Dr. Sonny Folorunso Kuku, a prominent physician and healthcare administrator, has called on the government to enhance Nigeria’s health insurance system, highlighting its importance in providing citizens with access to advanced healthcare supported by private sector investment.

Kuku calls for compulsory health insurance to boost access

Kuku addressed the launch of Frontline Hospitals in Nigeria, a report written by Dr. Femi Olugbile, the former health secretary of Lagos State, in collaboration with BusinessDay. The report emphasizes the importance of sustainable funding for mono-specialist and multi-specialist hospitals to ensure the maintenance of quality care, as noted by Kuku.

“As long as 70 to 80 percent of the population continues to pay out-of-pocket, healthcare will remain unaffordable,” Kuku stated. “Many wonderful developments are taking place, but healthcare financing is essential for their survival.” There is a necessity for compulsory insurance or direct budget allocation, similar to the NHS in England.

The report highlights the expansion of healthcare facilities throughout Nigeria, featuring leading public and private hospitals, along with secondary and primary care centers.

Olugbile noted that certain facilities with ample resources serve considerably fewer patients than they are capable of accommodating. “Some units are capable of handling 100 unique treatment cases each week, yet they only manage to process five,” he stated.

He emphasized the need for improved use of current capacity, highlighting that Rwanda’s health insurance reaches 90% of its population, significantly surpassing Nigeria.

Lagos plans to enforce health insurance for public services

Kemi Ogunyemi, special adviser to the Lagos governor on health, stated that the state might link access to public services, such as land documentation, to compliance with health insurance.

Ogunyemi emphasized the importance of public support and underscored the role of private sector investments in specialized care.

Frank Aigbogun, publisher of BusinessDay, emphasized the need for increased government investment. “This report acknowledges advancements, yet there remains a necessity for patient capital,” he stated.

Kuku observed that the decline in the public sector has spurred growth in the private sector, with hospitals such as St. Nicholas and Eko Hospital becoming significant contributors to Nigeria’s changing healthcare environment.