Health financing experts have called for a stronger role for the private sector in Nigeria’s health system.
The call was made during a webinar titled “Investing in Health in a Limited Fiscal Space” held on Wednesday, organized by Nigeria Health Watch in partnership with PUNCH Newspapers and Premium Times.
Dr. Mories Atoki, Chief Executive Officer of the African Business Coalition for Health, said health should be treated not only as a social good but also as a strategic economic sector deserving deliberate investment.
“The reality of our constrained fiscal space compels us to think beyond traditional aid, government budgets, and philanthropy. Businesses can mobilize innovative financing, engage in public-private partnerships, and drive market development to strengthen health systems,” she said.
Atoki highlighted practical ways the private sector can contribute beyond corporate social responsibility. “Businesses can invest in blended finance vehicles, health bonds, and impact investment funds to de-risk health ventures. Corporate health funds can also co-finance priority interventions such as local manufacturing, diagnostics, and digital infrastructure in collaboration with government and development partners,” she explained.
She emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships and performance-based contracts, suggesting that private operators be rewarded for measurable health outcomes such as immunization coverage, facility uptime, and digital data reporting. “This approach incentivizes efficiency, innovation, and accountability in the health sector,” she said.
Atoki also recommended the creation of innovation hubs and regulatory sandboxes similar to those in fintech to allow start-ups and private enterprises to pilot scalable solutions in telemedicine, data management, and supply-chain automation. She stressed that health tech innovators should be encouraged, not overburdened with excessive regulations.
She further emphasized local production of medicines, consumables, and medical technology to create jobs, reduce import dependency, improve the availability of essential products, and strengthen national health security. “For these initiatives to succeed, a viable enabling environment is critical, with predictable regulations, fiscal incentives, and collaborative governance between businesses, government, civil society, and academia,” Atoki added.
Dr. Felix Obi, a health systems policy and financing expert, highlighted the impact of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) on primary healthcare centres (PHCs) across Nigeria. He noted that state-level planning and citizen engagement could enhance service delivery.
Following the 2025 National Health Financing Dialogue, the Ministry of Health has encouraged all states to develop Annual Operational Plans (AOPs) outlining state-specific health priorities, infrastructure needs, service-delivery strategies, and resource requirements. “Clear AOPs enable civil society organizations and the media to track health budgets and assess whether allocations align with priority needs,” Obi said.
He stressed the importance of early citizen engagement in budget formulation to ensure transparency and accountability. “It’s not just about numbers; we need to know which PHCs received funds and whether they are benefiting the people, especially those in rural communities,” he said.
Obi also explained that the BHCPF, established under the 2014 National Health Act, guarantees that at least one percent of federal consolidated revenue is dedicated to basic health services. “Launched officially in 2018, the fund supports designated PHCs, paying facilities through capitation for services provided to enrolled beneficiaries. PHCs receiving BHCPF funding are generally better equipped, have more healthcare workers, and show improved service delivery compared with regular local government PHCs,” he added.
He noted that citizen awareness is crucial to prevent misappropriation of funds, citing platforms like citizens’ scorecards and community monitoring committees as essential tools.
Dr. Biobele Davidson, Managing Director of Strengthening Health Systems at BudgIT, highlighted digital innovations that empower communities to hold health systems accountable. Davidson said platforms like PHC Tracka allow citizens to report infrastructure gaps, drug shortages, staff absenteeism, and other service-delivery challenges directly to authorities.
“Despite the promise of these digital tools, significant shortfalls remain. Reports indicate that only about 62 percent of the N1.32 trillion budgeted for health in six states in 2024 was spent. This underutilization leaves gaps in allocation, disbursement, and facility-level services, highlighting persistent weaknesses in public health funding and monitoring,” she said.
Davidson stressed that citizen engagement is vital for monitoring programmes like the BHCPF, and that media and civil society must continue to raise awareness, demand transparency, and ensure allocated resources translate into measurable improvements in health service delivery.
The webinar followed the National Health Financing Policy Dialogue, which explored ways to translate policy commitments into concrete action. Participants highlighted the pivotal role of the media, civil society, and communities in ensuring accountability and sustainable health financing in Nigeria.
