Victoria Mbangwa
As the United States government reconsiders its foreign aid policies, Nigeria is taking significant steps to strengthen its healthcare system and reduce reliance on external funding.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, has emphasized the government’s commitment to investing in the sector, ensuring sustainability even as foreign funding declines.
One of the immediate actions being taken is the absorption of 28,000 Nigerian health workers previously supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Pate stated that while Nigeria appreciates past assistance, the country must take ownership of its healthcare workforce and services.
Beyond addressing the employment of health workers, the minister acknowledged broader structural challenges, including Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported medical supplies. More than 70% of the country’s medications and nearly all its medical devices are sourced from abroad, a situation he described as unsustainable given Nigeria’s foreign exchange constraints.
Recognizing these gaps, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved N4.5 billion for the procurement of HIV treatment packs, reinforcing the government’s intent to maintain essential health services. This move follows the US government’s decision to pause funding for HIV treatment in developing countries, including Nigeria, as part of an executive order on foreign aid.
Pate stressed that improving healthcare infrastructure and local pharmaceutical production is key to long-term sustainability. While international support has played a crucial role in Nigeria’s health sector, he noted that external funding does not account for the majority of the country’s healthcare spending. Currently, 30% of health expenditure is covered by the government, with the remaining 70% coming from private individuals.
“Quality healthcare is not cheap. We, as a country, have not invested in it yet and we are asking for the highest quality healthcare.
“Domestically, we have not invested. We have, since things changed in the last 18 months, with the deliberate efforts to improve investments and allocate investments to where it matters, the foundation. “Can you believe that more than 70 per cent of our drugs, we import them with foreign exchange that we don’t really have.
“We are a capable country and we are determined to own up to that responsibility,” Pate stated. “If others step in and support us, we appreciate it, but we are not begging.”
