Posted on: Fri 03-10-2025

Nigeria’s health system is currently performing at only 45 per cent of its capacity, well below the African regional average of 56 per cent, according to the African Health Observatory Platform on Health Systems and Policies (AHOP).

The performance rating is contained in the first edition of the Country Health System and Services Profiles (CHSSPs), a comprehensive review of health systems across African countries.

The Nigerian profile was published by the Health Policy Research Group, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, which serves as the Nigerian National Centre for AHOP. The report was produced with the support of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the World Health Organisation (WHO) African Region.

In a statement released in Abuja, Prof. Obinna Onwujekwe, Director of Nigeria’s National Centre for AHOP, said the report shows that health outcomes in Nigeria have not matched years of reforms and spending.

The report noted that although access, demand, and quality of health services have improved over the last decade, progress remains insufficient for Nigeria to meet its universal health coverage target by 2030.

Other findings include Low coverage: Essential service coverage is still 1.7 per cent below the regional average.

Private sector dominance: Private providers deliver 70 per cent of services while owning only 35 per cent of facilities.

Dysfunctional facilities: Approximately 80 per cent of the country's health infrastructure is non-functional, resulting in an estimated annual loss of S1 billion to medical tourism.

Heavy out-of-pocket spending: Nigerians fund 75 per cent of health costs themselves, with only one in ten citizens covered by health insurance or risk-pooling schemes.

Health workforce: Nigeria has 3.95 doctors per 10,000 people, higher than the African average (1.5) but still below the recommended 4.45 per 10,000.

Maternal health: Only 51 per cent of births are attended by skilled health workers.

The report attributed Nigeria’s poor health outcomes to sustained underinvestment, inadequate infrastructure, and weak engagement of available human resources.

It emphasised that Nigeria spends less on health as a share of GDP than nearly every other country in the world, leaving individuals and households to bear the greater burden of healthcare costs. To improve performance, the report recommended the Effective implementation of the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2023. Strengthened rollout of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (2014), Increased government health investment, and Better coordination of infrastructure and workforce management

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