The federal authorities has outlined plans to make sure that a minimum of 90 per cent of major healthcare centres (PHCs) are functional and 40 per cent of Nigerians have health insurance coverage by 2031.
The authorities additionally goals to supply quarterly funding to a minimum of 17,600 PHCs by way of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and lengthen maternal and new child healthcare interventions to all 774 native authorities areas.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, disclosed these targets on Tuesday through the opening ceremony of the 2026 Nigeria Health Sector Joint Annual Review (JAR) in Abuja.
Mr Salako mentioned the federal government was additionally concentrating on a discount in out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure to under 50 per cent by 2031, as a part of efforts to make healthcare extra inexpensive.
He defined that the targets fashioned a part of the federal government’s longer-term commitments to enhancing entry to healthcare, strengthening financing and lowering preventable deaths.
The proposed growth of maternal and new child healthcare companies can be carried out by way of the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), which focuses on lowering deaths amongst pregnant ladies and newborns.
Out-of-pocket expenditure refers to cash sufferers pay straight for healthcare companies, together with consultations, medicines and therapy, moderately than prices coated by insurance or different financing preparations.
The targets come as Nigeria continues to face challenges, together with insufficient healthcare financing, health employee shortages, and unequal entry to important companies, significantly in rural communities.
Progress recorded
Speaking on progress beneath the continued health sector reforms, Mr Salako mentioned almost eight million further Nigerians had been enrolled in health insurance for the reason that present administration took workplace, together with greater than three million weak individuals.
He mentioned the federal government was straight supporting greater than 8,000 PHCs, whereas over 3,000 services had attained Level 2 readiness, a measure of their capability to supply important healthcare companies.
The minister additionally reported enhancements in maternal and youngster health outcomes, together with an roughly 60 per cent decline in facility-reported maternal deaths in contrast with 2024.
He mentioned facility-reported neonatal and under-five deaths had declined by 22 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively.
Mr Salako additionally highlighted developments in native pharmaceutical manufacturing, saying the variety of lively pharmaceutical firms had elevated by roughly 10 per cent.
According to him, native manufacturing’s share of the pharmaceutical market elevated from 30 per cent in 2023 to 50 per cent in 2026, based mostly on figures from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical group and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The minister additionally introduced that the federal government would unveil the National Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy 2026–2030 and up to date task-shifting and task-sharing tips through the three-day assessment.
The tips are meant to supply a framework for sharing applicable healthcare obligations amongst completely different classes of educated health staff.
Mr Salako mentioned the assessment would additionally function the presentation of the Nigeria Mini Demographic and Health Survey report, which would offer further proof for assessing progress in healthcare supply.
He careworn the necessity to look at routine health facility information alongside survey findings to establish gaps and enhance decision-making.
“Survey and routine data answer different questions, so we shall read them side by side; where they differ, we will treat that as an instruction to look deeper, not a reason to look away,” he mentioned.
Accountability and implementation
Mr Salako mentioned the Joint Annual Review ought to transfer past discussions and produce particular commitments that authorities establishments and growth companions can be required to implement.
He defined that the resolutions ought to establish accountable companies, people and companions, with clear timelines for incorporating agreed actions into the 2027 annual operational plans.
The minister mentioned 2027 would mark the ultimate yr of the present Health Sector Strategic Blueprint, making it essential to assess achievements and deal with excellent implementation gaps.
“This year’s theme, ‘Make the Data Count’, conveys two meanings: every number must be dependable enough to steer by, and every number must be used to change a life,” he mentioned.
He added that health information ought to assist authorities monitor sufferers all through their care, from antenatal visits to supply and childhood immunisation.
The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Ipalibo Banigo, additionally referred to as for stronger accountability and sustainable financing to realize the federal government’s healthcare targets.
“With competing national priorities and declining external assistance, strengthening domestic resource mobilisation is no longer optional. It is imperative,” she mentioned.
Ms Banigo mentioned the legislature would proceed to assist healthcare reforms by way of appropriations and oversight, whereas making certain that funds had been launched on time and used successfully to enhance companies, significantly for ladies, youngsters and underserved communities.
Health sector challenges persist
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, acknowledged that vital challenges remained regardless of progress in implementing health sector reforms.
Ms Kachollom mentioned under-five and neonatal mortality charges remained removed from the federal government’s targets, whereas shortages of health staff continued to have an effect on service supply throughout the nation.
She additionally disclosed that solely 22 per cent of public health occasions met the seven-day early response goal through the assessment interval, highlighting weaknesses within the nation’s emergency preparedness and response system.
The Permanent Secretary urged stakeholders to deal with implementation gaps and make sure that health investments translate into higher companies for Nigerians.
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About JAR
The 2026 Joint Annual Review, held beneath the theme “Make the Data Count”, brings collectively federal and state authorities officers, growth companions and different stakeholders to evaluate progress beneath the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
The initiative is being carried out by way of the Sector-Wide Approach, which seeks to enhance coordination, financing and accountability in healthcare supply.
Mr Salako mentioned all states and the Federal Capital Territory had performed their very own evaluations, permitting the nationwide assembly to attract on findings from completely different elements of the nation.
The three-day assessment is predicted to establish remaining challenges and agree on priorities for 2027.
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