WHO urges Nigeria to turn health financing reform into action

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged the Nigerian authorities to determination beyond declarations and guarantee bold, sustained implementation of reforms to execute Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

In his keynote code astatine the National Health Financing Policy Dialogue successful Abuja connected Thursday, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, noted that reforms indispensable not stay different declaration.

Mr Janabi praised Nigeria’s caller efforts successful improving wellness care, specified arsenic the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), the National Health Insurance Authority Act, and the enlargement of state-level security schemes, describing them arsenic visionary foundations.

He, however, noted that the authorities indispensable summation nationalist wellness spending to astatine slightest 20 per cent of the nationalist budget, trim out-of-pocket payments that recycle poverty, and fortify pooling and prepayment mechanisms.

Call for accountability, accrued investment

Mr Janabi besides highlighted the request for evidence-based policymaking and accountability successful implementation, stressing that sustainable home financing does not mean shutting retired donor support.

Citing Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe, helium said the country’s main situation has historically been 1 of leadership.

“Today successful this country we are witnessing the opposite. I lone privation Achebe was present to spot this infinitesimal wherever enactment rises to conscionable the challenge,” helium said.

Beyond organization reforms, Francis Ukwuije, WHO Health Economist called for the hold of accountability to individuals and communities.

Speaking connected the taxable “Strengthening Community Accountability Linking CSOs, Communities and Local Governments,” Mr Ukwuije said civilian nine organisations person utilized assemblage scorecards to way equity, prime and fiscal extortion successful wellness services.

He, however, said that accountability mechanisms stay the missing link.

“It’s not truthful overmuch astir sanction and shame. Even successful different countries, what CSOs emphasise is however to clasp institutions responsible. But they don’t speech overmuch astir however to clasp individuals themselves liable for their ain wellness and the wellness of their communities,” helium said.

He urged stakeholders to “design assemblage scorecards successful Nigeria to guarantee that we clasp individuals liable for their idiosyncratic behaviour,” alongside the institutions mandated to supply care.

Cross-section of the participants

“That is 1 past happening I privation america to enactment arsenic we plan assemblage scorecards successful Nigeria. We indispensable guarantee that individuals are held liable for their idiosyncratic behaviour. Communities and governments cannot transportation this alone,” helium noted.

He pointed to lessons from different countries, noting that portion planetary experiences amusement however institutions are held responsible, determination is small accent connected idiosyncratic behaviour.

Mr Ukwuije argued that accountability volition wound lone erstwhile it is hard-wired into financing channels.

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