The Nigerian healthcare system grapples with a myriad of challenges, including inefficiency, crumbling infrastructure, insufficient funding, subpar worker compensation, and medical personnel disillusionment. Moreover, the ongoing exodus of doctors to countries with more robust healthcare systems exacerbates these issues.
Despite Nigeria’s population growth remaining relatively steady, its healthcare system lags far behind. Ranking a disheartening 157th in global healthcare rankings on Statisca, a platform dedicated to numerical data analysis, the country’s healthcare infrastructure struggles to cope with the overwhelming volume of patients relative to available medical personnel
It is unsurprising that many of our most skilled and talented doctors often choose to pursue opportunities beyond our nation’s borders, thereby exacerbating the country’s human resource deficit.
However, in recent years, there has been a growing sentiment that the health sector is a losing battle, particularly regarding the daunting costs associated with bringing Nigerian healthcare up to par with global standards. This sentiment has been further amplified in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which inflicted significant setbacks on the day-to-day operations of medical facilities.
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One study conducted by the Pharma-access Foundation, on behalf of the Nigerian government in 2020 found that by the end of 2018 the Nigerian population was an estimated 200 million citizens with 63 per cent under the age of 25. 34.8 per cent accounting for adults between the age of 25-64 and two per cent accounting for elders above 65 per cent.
Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 served to highlight the unpreparedness of the medical industry during times of crisis. The system was overwhelmed, particularly during the initial testing phase, which encountered roadblocks such as inaccurate COVID testing, long wait periods, and inefficiencies, resulting in underreporting of infection cases. Shortages of beds for patients, inadequate medical equipment, and limited testing supplies in rural areas exacerbated the situation.
Notably, the distribution of the COVID vaccine was uneven across the country, with treatments heavily concentrated in the most urbanised parts of the nation.
Unchecked population growth supersedes the capacity most hospitals can accommodate, as many doctors who manage private clinics and hospitals are forced to bear the burden despite only making up 30 per cent of hospitals in the country. It is especially pronounced in more rural areas where funding is non-existent with government corruption often diverting funds away from the public sector, which undermines efforts to improve healthcare delivery.
A lack of governmental support is a consistent issue, the plight of the Nigerian healthcare system is in no sense a niche point of discussion in the country and it is often brought up as a key sector requiring further investment by our leaders. Despite these platitudes, it remains among the least invested parts of the Nigerian economy averaging between 3-5 per cent of the annual budget over the last five years with payment allocation primarily going towards recurrent expenditure needed to simply keep the doors open in most general hospitals. Between 2000 to 2019 the life expectancy for most Nigerians is around 51 years, behind the global average of about 70 years.
In order to meet the demands of Nigerian healthcare we have seen many doctors open their own private practices. Currently, they make up about 30% of hospitals in the country yet they bear the brunt of the responsibility when it comes to looking after the general populace, not helped by the difficulty of conducting business in the country with significant levels of bureaucratic tape that must be navigated before receiving license of practice privately.
To effectively overcome these challenges, the health sector must be approached comprehensively and strategically. Merely increasing budget allocations, while crucial, should be coupled with long-term planning and judicious resource allocations. Additionally, if private practitioners are expected to shoulder the responsibility of caring for the country’s sick and elderly, it becomes imperative for the government to mitigate barriers to entry into the healthcare profession.
Furthermore, there is a need for public engagement in this sector as there is no greater perspective on a country’s view on the value of human life than the state of its healthcare industry. Public hospitals need to be provided with clear and accessible standards of conduct with accountability that discourages kicking the metaphorical can down the road.
A culture that values human decency must be cultivated among medical personnel to prevent negligence and indifference to the plight of ordinary Nigerians. Medical research funding will also be a requirement, whether to increase the collective knowledge of medical staff or to ensure staff are better suited to serving the communities they work in. In more rural areas we will need local leaders to educate the youth on the value of looking after their health and strength.
In conclusion, it is evident that the task of remedying the deficiencies within the Nigerian healthcare system necessitates more than just increased budgetary allocations. While financial investment is crucial, it must be complemented by a concerted focus on nurturing and developing human capital within the healthcare sector. This includes prioritising long-term strategies that aim for sustainable improvements in the delivery of healthcare services.
Efforts should be directed towards addressing systemic issues such as inadequate infrastructure, medical equipment shortages, and uneven distribution of healthcare services. These challenges can be mitigated through strategic planning and intelligent resource allocations that prioritize long-term sustainability and equitable access to healthcare for all Nigerians.
Ibrahim wrote from Abuja
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