The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has opened a four-day National Health Financing Policy Dialogue in Abuja, aimed at securing sustainable and equitable funding for Nigeria’s health sector.
Speaking at the opening session on Monday, NHIA Director-General, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, said the dialogue comes at a crucial moment as the country navigates shifts in health systems, financing, and demographics.
“The global health financing landscape is changing. Donor funding is declining, while the burden of disease continues to rise. Nigeria must increasingly rely on domestic resources to achieve universal health coverage,” he stated.
Dr. Ohiri highlighted major challenges in the sector, including high out-of-pocket spending, weak financial protection, and poor coordination across different tiers of government. He stressed the need for stronger accountability, private sector participation, and greater sub-national involvement.
The policy dialogue also builds on Nigeria’s commitments at the World Health Assembly, where the country pledged to increase domestic health investment, reduce fragmentation, and improve systems for tracking health expenditure.
“This is not just a government initiative. Achieving sustainable and equitable health financing will require the collective effort of government, civil society, development partners, academia, and the private sector,” Dr. Ohiri said.
The meeting is expected to produce a roadmap with clear commitments to strengthen Nigeria’s health financing architecture.
