Federal Ministry of Health

THE Presidential Summit on Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria held under the theme "UHC ... a Vehicle for Sustainable Growth and Development"; 

2. RE-AFFIRMING that health is a fundamental human right and the responsibility of government in assuring the health of its people; 

3. RECOGNIZING that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) holds the key to unlocking the door for equitable, qualitative 

and universally accessible health care for all/Nigerians without suffering financial hardship; 

4. AWARE of the pivotal role of a healthy population as a driver for sustainable, equitable and inclusive economic growth and national development; . 

5. DEEPLY CONCERNED that Nigeria's attainment of the target of 30% health insurance coverage by December, 2015 is threatened by the non institutionalization of universal Health Coverage; 

6. RECOGNIZING that the key challenges for achieving UHC are related to the sub-optimal health system characterized by budgetary constraints, inadequate financial protection for the poor, shortage and mal- distribution of human resources for health, uneven quality of health care services, challenges in the provision of health commodities, poor coordination, and weak referral system and the uneven utilization of health services; 

7. ACKNOWLEDGING the progress made towards UHC through initiatives at Federal and State levels, targeted at improving access to and creating demand for health care services; 

8. APPRECIATING the support of all partners and stakeholders in the Nigerian health sector including federal, State and Local governments, Civil Society Organizations, private sector, traditional and religious institutions, academia, media, communities and multilateral and bilateral organizations; 

WE HEREBY STRONGLY RECOMMEND TO THE GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AT ALL LEVELS (FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT) TO SIGNIFICANTLY MAKE PROGRESS TOWARDS ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE IN NIGERIA BY: 

9. COMMITTING to implementing the recommendations of this Presidential Summit on Universal Health Coverage; 

10. WORKING TOWARDS instituting mandatory health insurance in Nigeria, with contributions from all income earners (formal and informal) and special funds to cover the poor; 

11. COMMITTING to increase budgetary allocation to health at Federal, State and Local Government with a proportion earmarked for UHC priority interventions; 

12. DEPLOYING alternative, innovative and sustainable sources offunding for Universal Health Coverage; 

13. ENSURING that all existing and new funds from 11 and 12 above and all other sources are pooled into Universal Health Coverage Fund at all levels; 

14. STRENGTHENING and expanding financial risk protection mechanisms for the poor and vulnerable groups as part of the broader social protection efforts in the country; 

15. DEFINING a standard benefit package of essential health services that addresses priority health care needs of Nigerians; 

16. DELIVERING the standard benefit package through ensuring adequate physical infrastructure, skilled human resource, medicines & other life-saving commodities and equitable distribution of same; 

17. PROVIDING policy & regulatory instruments for the institutionalization of systems and mechanism that ensure -quality of care and satisfaction for consumers of health care services; 

18. EXPLORING the establishment of an Independent Health Quality Commission to ensure standards and compliance; 

19. DELIBERATELY building an organized referral system that guarantees each citizen access to functional primary health care facility, which shall be the first point of contact in the national health system; 

20. CONSTITUTING and inaugurating appropriate committees that will initiate appropriate actions towards the realization of the recommendations of the Presidential Summit; 

21. BUILDING on existing and forgoing new multi-sectoral partnerships for coordinated UHC efforts for Nigeria, led by 

Government and supported by non-state (non-government) actors; 

22. ESTABLISHING a joint mechanism to monitor and evaluate progress of Universal Health Coverage efforts in Nigeria; 

23. ENDORSING the aforementioned, this 10th day of March, 2014.