A general physician, Dr. Gerald Chinasa, has canvassed the strengthening of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and the Primary Health Care (PHC) system to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.
Chinasa, who made the call in an interview on Friday in Lagos, said effective PPPs and a strong primary healthcare system were critical to improving quality of life, noting that PHC is a comprehensive strategy that involves the entire society in promoting health.
The physician called on government agencies to actively engage in partnerships with private sector players to transform the healthcare system and achieve universal health coverage.
Chinasa described PPPs as veritable instruments for transforming and boosting funding in the nation’s healthcare sector.
He explained that government could foster partnerships with private sector organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and community groups to leverage resources, expertise, and funding.
According to him, such partnerships are essential to bridging gaps in health financing and service delivery.
He stressed that neither the public nor the private sector could achieve UHC alone without pooling resources.
“There is a need for a synergistic approach to enhance healthcare delivery through collaboration between the public and private sectors.
“If there is effective PPP, total health expenditure will increase because more private bodies will invest in healthcare. This is what is obtainable in other countries,” he said.
Chinasa highlighted the growing recognition of the challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system, including inadequate infrastructure, limited access to essential services, high treatment costs, and a shortage of healthcare professionals.
He noted that a collaborative approach—harnessing the strengths of both the public and private sectors—was essential to effectively addressing these challenges.
The physician explained that successful PPPs could lead to improved health outcomes, reduced costs, and enhanced service delivery, citing several case studies where such partnerships had significantly improved healthcare access and quality.
“Public-private partnerships are not just beneficial; they are necessary for driving innovation and ensuring sustainable access to quality healthcare.
“Together, the public and private sectors can leverage their respective strengths to build a resilient healthcare system that meets the needs of our people, making UHC truly accessible to all,” he said.
