The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has announced a new partnership between the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), and MedServe (NSIA Advanced Medical Services Limited), a move expected to significantly boost specialised healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Speaking during a media briefing, Prof. Pate stated the country has made notable progress in expanding access to specialised healthcare while strengthening its position in global health discussions. “Nigeria is steadily improving access to advanced medical care for its people, while also playing a more active role in shaping global health security conversations,” he said.
He explained that the initiative is backed by long-term international financing alongside strategic national investment and is designed to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve access to critical services nationwide. “This partnership will help us close long-standing gaps in specialised care by bringing essential diagnostic, cancer, and cardiac services closer to Nigerians,” Pate said.
The programme ensures that advanced diagnostic centres will be developed and equipped with modern laboratory and imaging technologies to support early disease detection and faster treatment. Cancer care services will also be expanded through the establishment of specialised oncology centres, while advanced cardiac services, including catheterisation laboratories, will be scaled across several locations nationwide.
According to Prof. Pate, decentralising these services will ensure that more Nigerians can access quality care without the need to travel long distances or seek treatment outside the country.
Also, Nigeria is stepping up national and international coordination ahead of the High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), scheduled to hold in Abuja in June 2026. As part of preparations, he has been engaging key stakeholders, including the Ministerial Global Envoy on AMR, Dr Ayoade Olatunbosun-Alakija, and the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, to strengthen collaboration across sectors.
He noted that discussions also focused on environmental factors driving AMR, including pharmaceutical and hospital waste, poor sanitation, agricultural runoff, water pollution and ensurinf the meeting produces clear commitments, practical action plans and accountability frameworks that accelerate the action at all strata.
The minister concluded by emphasising Nigeria’s commitment to building a stronger, more resilient health system while contributing meaningfully to global health solutions. From expanding access to specialised care to driving action on antimicrobial resistance, the country continues to take steady steps towards improved health outcomes at home and beyond.
