The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised governments to raise public health expenditure to at least 20 percent of total health spending while reducing out-of-pocket costs to shield households from financial hardship.
Delivering a goodwill message at the four-day Health Financing Dialogue organized by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in Abuja on Thursday, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Prof. Mohammed Janabi, stressed that sustainable health financing is vital to building resilient health systems. He urged Nigeria and other African countries to scale up investment in public health.
Janabi, however, praised the Federal Government’s recent reforms, noting initiatives such as the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), the NHIA Act, and the expansion of State-level insurance schemes as significant strides toward strengthening Nigeria’s health sector.
“This means strengthening pooling and prepayment mechanisms and ensuring that every decision is guided by evidence such as cost-effectiveness and equity analyses. We must use resources wisely to create a fair and equitable financing structure,” he said.
Janabi urged policymakers to seize the momentum of the Abuja dialogue to create lasting solutions, noting, “Let this Dialogue be remembered as a turning point where commitments become sustained action. Together, we can build a financing system that is inclusive, equitable, and responsive.”
commending Nigeria’s leadership in health financing reforms, describing recent policy initiatives as timely and essential for the well-being of its over 223 million citizens and for the future of the African continent.
“Nigeria’s leadership in health financing reform is timely and commendable,. With over 223 million citizens, how the country finances health is vital for the well-being of its people and the future of the continent.
“We know healthier populations are more productive, more resilient to shocks, and better able to drive inclusive growth,” Janabi said.
The WHO Regional Director said the introduction of equity and investment units as well as the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which engages parliamentarians to push health reforms, offers inspiration to other African nations.
“Nigeria’s progress is encouraging. These steps are in the right direction and show the kind of leadership Africa needs in its health financing journey,” he noted.
He reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Nigeria on its path to universal health coverage, emphasizing that health investments are not only a moral imperative but also an economic strategy for growth and resilience.
“WHO stands ready as a partner on this journey,” Janabi said.
The African Union (AU) and the Global Fund also praised Nigeria’s leadership in health financing reforms, describing the country as a model for Africa at a time of shrinking aid and global health challenges.
AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, Amb. Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah, commended Nigeria’s recent approval of $1.7 billion for the HOPE Projects to strengthen governance, expand primary health care, and improve service delivery nationwide.
“Today, Nigeria becomes the first West African nation to host such a dialogue, a milestone that comes at a time of shifting global financing, climate pressures and growing humanitarian crises.
“Amid today’s constraints, Nigeria has charted a bold path. As Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba says, ‘If Nigeria gets it right, Africa will get it right,” Twum-Amoah said.
She urged stronger African-led health security and regulatory systems, stressing that “Domestic investment is not only a public good but a catalyst for peace, security, and sustainable development… the surest path to realising Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want.”
Maria Kirova, on behalf of the Global Fund, commended Nigeria’s efforts against HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, highlighting its investments in health security and infrastructure.
She outlined initiatives including expanded health insurance, over 60 oxygen facilities, supply chain upgrades, surveillance improvements, and PHC revitalization.
“This dialogue comes at a critical time, when international financing is shrinking, and sustaining these investments is paramount,” she noted.
The Abuja dialogue, the first in West Africa, aims to revive commitments from the 2001 Abuja Declaration for African nations to allocate at least 15% of their budgets to health.
The health financing dialogue brought together government leaders, parliamentarians, development partners, and health sector stakeholders to address the funding gaps undermining access to quality healthcare in Nigeria.
