Experts underscore private sector’s role in achieving Universal Health Coverage

Leading experts have said that private sector’s contribution to the provision of health insurance is vital for attaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria, especially as the sector account for over 60 per cent of healthcare service delivery in the country.

The experts speaking at the just concluded 2024 Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) yearly conference in Lagos, suggested that expanding the private sector’s involvement in healthcare delivery can lead to more affordable and high quality healthcare options for Nigerians, addressing a critical need in the country’s healthcare system.

According to them, countries that have embraced private sector involvement in healthcare delivery have been able to unlock the innovative power of such sector thereby, creating transparency and accountability that translate to efficient and effective healthcare delivery services.

Delivering the keynote address, CEO of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Dr. Tayo Aduloju, said: “90 per cent of essential UHC interventions can be delivered through primary healthcare centres, potentially saving 60 million lives and increasing global life expectancy by 3.7 years by 2030.

“Given the government’s limited capacity and competing challenges, the private health sector must be leveraged to unlock innovation and resources for UHC, especially via private healthcare involvement, policies favouring and inspiring PPPs, collaborating with digital healthcare delivery and tech integrating organisations.”

CEO of PharmAccess Foundation, Nicole Spieker, delivered a special guest address, offering valuable insights on the innovative approaches harnessing private sector solutions for achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria’s evolving health insurance landscape.

In her address, she noted that healthcare insurance should be seen as a social business that requires collaboration between public and private sectors.

She urged stakeholders to explore ways to involve businesses and banks in healthcare investment, pointing out that technology has the potential to promote UHC in Nigeria.

“Private health insurers need capital to expand, and the use of technology can create services for lower-income groups,” Spieker said.

In her introductory speech, MD/CEO of PSHAN, Dr. Tinuola Akinbolagbe, gave a background of the conference’s theme while highlighting the objective of the conference.

She noted that PSHAN plays a vital role in promoting private sector involvement in healthcare delivery, considering its contribution to over 60 percent of Nigeria’s healthcare service delivery. Akinbolagbe said the government needs to use accurate, research-backed data to guide informed decisions.

The panel discussion on “Private Sector Solutions for Universal Health Coverage: Myth or Reality?” followed.

Moderated by Director of Nigeria Programmes at MSD for Mothers, Iyadunni Olubode, panelists included Modupeola Ogundimu, Director Lagos Zone, National Health Insurance Authority; Dr. Alero Roberts, Associate Professor at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos; Dr. Leke Oshunniyi, MD of AIICO Multishield Limited; Abimbola Adebakin, Founder and CEO of Advantage Health Africa; Dr. Ngozi Onyia of Paleon Memorial Hospital; and PejuIbekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation.

Olubode said 60 per cent of Nigerians access healthcare through the private sector. According to her, the public sector alone cannot meet Nigerians’ healthcare needs.

“Collaboration between public and private sectors in a mixed health system is the only way to achieve UHC in Nigeria,” Olubode said.

She said the private sector brings innovation, efficiency, access, and sometimes investment and they need support.

“The private sector needs access to financing to deliver the desired healthcare. Just as citizens need financing on the demand side, healthcare is a business requiring financing on the supply side as well,” she added.

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