Naija247news reports that Nigeria’s healthcare sector remains highly dependent on imports, with 70% of medicines and 99% of medical devices sourced from abroad, according to Prof. Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Speaking on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, Pate warned that Nigeria’s overreliance on foreign supplies is unsustainable, especially as global funding uncertainties threaten key health programs.
Healthcare Spending and Import Dependence
With total health spending per capita at just $120, compared to $4,000+ in the U.S. and U.K., Nigeria faces severe healthcare financing challenges. Only 30% of total health expenditure comes from public funding and foreign aid, while 70% is privately funded.
Despite these financial constraints, over 70% of medicines and nearly all medical devices are imported, consuming scarce foreign exchange.
“Our healthcare system is import-dependent, and we spend foreign exchange that we don’t have to buy basic medicines and equipment,” Pate stated. “If we don’t invest in local production, our healthcare sector will remain vulnerable.”
Impact of U.S. Aid Suspension and Government’s Response
The U.S. government’s suspension of health aid, which previously supported 28,000 Nigerian health workers, has raised concerns over the sustainability of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria programs.
While acknowledging the role of U.S. assistance, Pate noted that much of the funding was channeled through foreign implementing partners, not Nigeria’s government.
To address this challenge, the Federal Government has launched a $1 billion healthcare investment plan to:
• Boost local pharmaceutical production and reduce drug imports
• Expand national health infrastructure, including hospitals and medical training
• Improve supply chain management for essential medicines
• Encourage private-sector investment in medical equipment manufacturing
Reducing Energy Costs in Healthcare
Beyond medical supply challenges, energy costs remain a major burden on Nigerian hospitals. For example, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has faced over 100 days of electricity outages, forcing reliance on costly diesel generators.
To mitigate this, the government is partnering with the Rural Electrification Agency to solarize hospitals, reducing dependence on expensive fuel and improving healthcare access.
Nigeria’s Path to Health Self-Sufficiency
Despite current challenges, Pate remains optimistic that strategic investments will drive Nigeria toward healthcare independence.
“We may be a poor country, but we are a capable country,” he said. “By investing in local drug manufacturing and medical equipment production, we can reverse our dependence on imports and build a sustainable healthcare system.”
The Federal Government’s push for domestic production and sustainable healthcare financing marks a critical shift toward long-term health security, Naija247news reports.
