Dr Bolanle Oyeledun, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Integrated Health Programmes (CIHP), has warned that high out-of-pocket healthcare payments could push millions of Nigerians further into poverty and financial distress.
Speaking in Abuja during CIHP’s 5th Scientific Roundtable Series, Oyeledun described the situation as alarming, particularly in a country where more than 139 million citizens live below the poverty line and struggle to afford basic healthcare.
She noted that a single health emergency could exacerbate poverty, stressing the urgent need for accessible, affordable health services through community-based insurance models that share financial risks and promote inclusiveness.
“Community health insurance schemes have shown promise by decentralising coverage, pooling local resources, and encouraging collective responsibility for health financing within rural and low-income communities,” Oyeledun said.
She highlighted that informal saving systems, such as SUSU in southern Nigeria, could be adapted to promote consistent health savings and strengthen participation in community-based insurance plans.
Oyeledun emphasised that premiums must remain affordable and participation broad enough to spread financial risks, ensuring long-term sustainability. She also urged the private sector to invest in the health of host communities, noting that such contributions could yield mutual benefits through improved productivity, better health outcomes, tax incentives, and corporate social responsibility recognition.
Philanthropists and non-state actors, she added, should prioritise community health financing to significantly improve access to care for underserved populations. She called for collective action by government, private sector, civil society, and individuals to expand insurance coverage, reduce catastrophic payments, and guarantee quality healthcare without the risk of financial ruin.
Oyeledun also highlighted the vulnerability of migrants, many of whom remain excluded from national health insurance schemes, leaving them exposed to high out-of-pocket expenses. “By pooling risks at the community level, insurance schemes could protect vulnerable groups, including migrants, and ensure equitable access to essential health services regardless of income or location,” she said.
Dr Kunle Kakanfo, Founder of Artificial Intelligence for Social Impact and Development, urged Nigeria to leverage artificial intelligence and digital tools to bridge healthcare gaps and improve access in underserved communities. He highlighted innovations such as telemedicine, AI-driven diagnostics, and WhatsApp chatbots, which can increase access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural areas.
Kakanfo warned that many global health programmes collapse once donor support ends, emphasizing the need for private sector involvement and improved management to sustain healthcare financing. He added that digital technologies could enhance transparency, accountability, and data-driven policymaking while improving diagnosis accuracy and expanding remote medical consultations.
Dr Temitope Ilori, Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), highlighted the importance of Nigeria’s transition to national ownership of health programmes for sustainability and long-term public health resilience. She stressed the need for political leadership, coordinated policy efforts, and strategic investment in local production of medical commodities and diagnostics.
Ilori lauded government initiatives, including the Renewed Hope Agenda and the ATM National Technical Working Group, for strengthening supply chains and improving nationwide health service coordination. She also cited policies such as the Presidential Value Chain Initiative, which foster local pharmaceutical production and attract private investment into Nigeria’s healthcare industry.
She revealed that partnerships with local manufacturers and international firms are enabling domestic production of HIV test kits, antiretrovirals, and other life-saving commodities to improve affordability and availability.
Ilori concluded that expanding local resource mobilisation and sustainable financing mechanisms would strengthen Nigeria’s health security and ensure long-term resilience against future health and economic shocks.
