By Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
For many Nigerians, the journey to receiving quality healthcare is often marked by long waiting times, overstretched medical facilities, expensive medications and the growing fear that the country’s best doctors and nurses are leaving for greener pastures abroad. These realities have fuelled conversations about the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system and raised pressing questions about whether meaningful change is truly underway.
The Federal Government, acknowledging the challenges confronting the sector, insists that the necessary change is here, as it says the past two years have been dedicated to laying the foundation for a stronger, more resilient and more equitable healthcare system.
At the heart of the ongoing reforms is the Presidential Health Sector Renewal Compact, an ambitious agenda designed to address some of the country’s most persistent healthcare problems, including workforce shortages, inadequate infrastructure, healthcare financing and access to affordable medicines.
Rebuilding the Health Workforce
One of the biggest concerns facing Nigeria’s health sector is the shortage of skilled healthcare professionals. The migration of doctors, nurses and other medical workers to countries offering better pay and working conditions has placed enormous pressure on health facilities across the country.
In response to this challenge, the Federal Government explains that it has recruited more than 37,000 health workers across federal health institutions since 2023. In addition, over 70,000 frontline healthcare workers have received training aimed at improving service delivery and strengthening healthcare capacity nationwide.
Recognising that migration cannot simply be stopped, the government has also introduced the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration, which seeks to improve workforce planning, encourage retention and promote ethical international recruitment. This effort is complemented by the establishment of a National Health Workforce Registry, expected to provide accurate data for planning while supporting investments in specialist training and professional development.
These initiatives are intended not only to increase the number of healthcare workers but also to ensure they are better equipped to meet Nigeria’s growing healthcare needs.
Strengthening Primary Healthcare
For millions of Nigerians, primary healthcare centres remain the first and sometimes only point of contact with the healthcare system. Improving these facilities has therefore become a major focus of the government’s reform agenda.
According to a statement signed by the Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ado Bako, through the revised Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF 2.0), the government has approved N32.9 billion to improve healthcare delivery, strengthen accountability and expand financial protection.
The programme currently supports more than 8,300 Primary Health Care Centres, with plans to extend coverage to approximately 13,000 facilities nationwide.
Based on government figures, these investments have already contributed to more than 80 million patient visits. At the same time, over 21 million vulnerable Nigerians have accessed healthcare through the Vulnerable Groups Health Insurance Fund, reducing financial barriers for many low-income households.
Beyond routine medical care, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has strengthened disease surveillance and emergency preparedness through the BHCPF Gateway, improving the country’s ability to detect and respond to disease outbreaks before they escalate into public health emergencies.
Making Medicines More Affordable
Another challenge confronting many Nigerians is the high cost and inconsistent availability of essential medicines. Heavy dependence on imported pharmaceutical products has often left the country vulnerable to exchange rate fluctuations and global supply disruptions.
To tackle this issue, the Federal Government is expanding local pharmaceutical production through the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC).
The initiative aims to boost domestic medicine manufacturing, reduce reliance on imports, strengthen medicine security and ultimately make essential drugs more affordable and accessible across the country. Beyond improving access to medicines, officials believe increased local production could also stimulate investment, create jobs and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare economy
Beyond Policies to Practical Results
Health sector experts have long argued that meaningful reform requires more than policy announcements. It demands consistent implementation, accountability and measurable outcomes. The government maintains that this is exactly what it is pursuing.
In addition to workforce development and primary healthcare reforms, investments have been directed toward health infrastructure, maternal and newborn care, emergency preparedness, digital health systems and improved governance across the sector.
According to findings presented during the 2025 Joint Annual Review, about 84 per cent of the key performance indicators under the Presidential Health Sector Renewal Compact had been achieved, indicating measurable progress in implementing the reform agenda.
While these figures point to significant milestones, experts note that sustained funding, stronger collaboration between federal and state governments, improved infrastructure maintenance and continuous monitoring will be essential to ensure that reforms translate into better healthcare experiences for ordinary Nigerians.
The Road Ahead
Nigeria’s healthcare journey remains a work in progress. Hospitals in many communities continue to struggle with equipment shortages, overcrowding and uneven access to specialised care. Health worker migration remains a concern, and affordability continues to challenge many households.
Yet, the current reform efforts signal a recognition that these longstanding issues require coordinated, long-term solutions rather than short-term interventions.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare says it remains committed to working alongside healthcare professionals, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector and Nigerians themselves to build a healthcare system that is more resilient, more inclusive and better prepared for future challenges.
Ultimately, the success of these reforms will not be judged solely by budgets approved or policies launched, but by whether Nigerians can access quality healthcare when they need it most without financial hardship, unnecessary delays or preventable loss of life.
If sustained, today’s reforms could become the building blocks of a healthier Nigeria tomorrow, where quality healthcare is not a privilege for a few but a reality everyone lives in.