Why Nigerian Primary Health Institutions Fail — Minister

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has blamed limited financing for primary healthcare, shortage and mal-distribution of healthcare workers, dilapidated infrastructure, and weak referral systems for the poor services at Primary healthcare institutions across the country.

The Minister disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the national health dialogue organised by Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development and the Premium Times Newspapers, themed ‘Role of State and Non-state Actors in Primary Health Care Financing.’

He said  National Health Account reports published over the past decade indicated that expenditure on primary healthcare had been sub-optimal, with significant spending on curative healthcare.

“The inadequacy in funding for the primary healthcare system has negatively impacted the delivery of services such as immunization and maternal and child health services,” he revealed.

Represented by Dr Ngozi Azodo of the ministry, the Minister said robust primary healthcare financing in Nigeria would require collaborative efforts of both state and non-state actors.

According to Daily Trust, Ehanire insisted that state actors in government continue to play their roles to ensure that more public resources are available for the primary healthcare systems, but added that a significant proportion of the progress with financing for primary healthcare is dependent on the role of non-state actors.

He said the private sector, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, the media, faith-based organizations, trade unions, professional organizations, academia, community groups, and private citizens alike could contribute to financing primary healthcare in Nigeria.