By Daniel Edu
During the Future of Health Conference 2023 in Lagos, Dr. Salma Anas, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Health, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors to expedite the establishment of a resilient healthcare system in Nigeria.
Speaking virtually at the event organized by Nigeria Health Watch, under the theme “The Private Sector as a Catalyst for a Resilient Health System,” Salma Anas asserted that access to quality healthcare is a fundamental human right for all Nigerians. She stressed that a healthy population is essential for unlocking the nation’s potential for growth and development, which, in turn, leads to collective prosperity.
Salma Anas also highlighted the vital role of the private sector in complementing the government’s healthcare investments, stating that active involvement from both sectors is necessary to ensure comprehensive coverage, sustainability, and national development.
She pointed out that the administration of Bola Tinubu has prioritized engaging with stakeholders, particularly the private sector, to meet the healthcare sector’s growth and development objectives. With over 70% of healthcare spending in Nigeria coming from the private sector, fostering strategic partnerships and collaborations is crucial to improving the overall health sector.
Salma Anas stressed that leveraging public-private partnerships will enable Nigeria to make significant progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), improving healthcare delivery, enhancing access to healthcare, and providing financial protection for all Nigerians.
However, she emphasized that achieving a resilient healthcare system requires reforms that protect the interests of both public and private stakeholders. These reforms would establish clear roles and responsibilities, robust governance frameworks, and transparent accountability mechanisms.
Salma Anas called for a multi-sectoral and multi-faceted approach that encourages collaboration and synergy between the public and private sectors to accelerate progress. This approach would lead to improved healthcare infrastructure, a well-trained workforce, appropriate technologies, and reliable pharmaceutical supplies with logistical support, ultimately providing equitable access to quality healthcare.
She concluded by stating that such a policy is in line with the administration’s commitment to inclusivity and partnership between the public and private sectors, which fosters national prosperity.
In her opening remarks, Vivianne Ihekweazu, Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, reiterated that quality healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege, for all citizens. She emphasized the need for better integration between public and private healthcare providers and recognized the pivotal role of the private sector in driving transformative change and strengthening the healthcare system’s resilience in the face of challenges.
Ihekweazu urged the acceleration of progress to improve health outcomes in Nigeria, as the current statistics indicate unfavorable trends.
