The Director of Operations at AfriHealth Development Foundation, Dr C.J. Mbelu, has stressed that meaningful improvement in Nigeria’s healthcare system cannot be achieved without paying serious attention to the business aspect of healthcare.
Speaking at the AfriHealth Expo organised by the foundation in Lagos recently, with the theme “Healthcare Entrepreneur & Mentorship: Guiding the Next Generation of Health Innovators”, Dr Mbelu said healthcare delivery in Nigeria requires strategic planning, funding, innovation and proper business structures to survive and thrive.
According to him, the healthcare sector has evolved beyond simply setting up hospitals, laboratories or diagnostic centres, noting that healthcare providers must now embrace entrepreneurship, marketing, public relations and administrative management to remain sustainable.
“We can’t improve healthcare without discussing the business of healthcare. You cannot promote healthcare delivery in Nigeria without the business of healthcare”, Dr Mbelu said.
Dr Mbelu explained that many healthcare businesses in the country are shutting down because they were not properly structured, while many young doctors are leaving Nigeria due to lack of motivation and opportunities.
He said the AfriHealth Expo was created to showcase healthcare businesses and innovations already existing in Nigeria, adding that many Nigerians still travel abroad for medical procedures that are available locally.
He said: “You may have a hospital in Nigeria doing kidney transplant or IVF successfully, but many people do not know because such facilities are not properly promoted”.
The AfriHealth Expo organiser noted that the programme also seeks to rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s healthcare system through awareness, innovation and improved patient engagement.
Speaking on the challenges facing healthcare businesses in Nigeria, Dr Mbelu identified poor funding, low government commitment and lack of adequate health insurance as major obstacles. He argued that many Nigerians still see healthcare largely as humanitarian service rather than a critical sector that requires serious investment.
According to him, this mind-set has contributed to poor government funding for the sector, despite global recommendations for increased healthcare budgetary allocation. He said “People cannot continue paying for healthcare out of their pockets. Government must come in with funding, grants and support for healthcare providers”.
Mbelu also stressed the importance of expanding health insurance coverage, warning that many families become financially devastated when managing chronic illnesses such as cancer or kidney disease. “The only way many people realise they are poor is when a family member develops cancer or requires dialysis.”
He further lamented what he described as poor health-seeking behaviour among Nigerians, noting that many people often resort to spiritual solutions instead of seeking prompt medical attention, and according to him, this reactive approach to healthcare contributes to worsening health conditions and affects the growth of healthcare businesses.
He called on government, financial institutions and stakeholders to support healthcare professionals with loans, grants, modern equipment and policies that would strengthen the sector, stressing that improved funding and proper healthcare business structures remain essential to achieving quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
