Abuja: The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has stated that sustained investment in health is essential for Nigeria’s economic growth and long-term development. Pate made the remark during the opening of the National Health Financing Dialogue, themed ‘Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the dialogue aims to build a strong evidence base to support increased and sustained financing commitments. It also seeks to facilitate policy reforms that encourage private sector involvement in the health system. Pate emphasized the importance of sub-national health financing, exploring new strategies, and enhancing accountability across the health sector.
Prof. Pate highlighted that no nation can achieve lasting prosperity without a healthy population. He noted that decades of underinvestment in Nigeria’s health system had burdened families with high out-of-pocket expenses and slowed the country’s overall development. He stressed that achieving a quality health system without adequate financial investment is unrealistic, stating, “Health, wherever it is produced, is not cheap. If you want to get good health, somebody has to pay for it.”
Pate posed key questions on resource utilization, asking, “So the challenge is: with what we have at this point, how do we use it wisely? How do we deploy, mobilise, and purchase efficiently? How do we stretch the few dollars we have to get the most health for our population?” He stressed the need for funding from both federal and state governments, as well as other organized sources, ensuring protections for the poor and vulnerable.
He also emphasized the need for a functioning health market involving the private sector, stating, “As we get more, we will spend more on health. But there has to be a market that functions, so that it’s not only the government that participates. The private sector must also be involved.” Pate highlighted the crucial role of civil society, noting its importance as a watchdog, advocate, and mobilizer.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the four-day dialogue brings together policymakers, development partners, health financing experts, and representatives from civil society, media, health insurance, private sector, and academia. They aim to build on recent progress and translate high-level commitments into actionable strategies for sustainable health financing in Nigeria.