Vice President Kashim Shettima has revealed that Nigeria’s healthcare reforms have attracted over $4.8 billion in potential investments, marking a significant boost for the country’s healthcare system. He made this announcement during the commissioning and grand opening of Sahad Hospitals in Abuja, highlighting the government’s commitment to revitalizing the sector.
Shettima explained that the reforms are built around four primary pillars: Transforming healthcare governance, improving population health outcomes, unlocking the healthcare value chain, strengthening health security.
“Our ambitious health sector reforms, which have already attracted over $4.8 billion in potential investments, demonstrate our unwavering dedication to revitalizing Nigeria’s healthcare system,” Shettima stated.
Vice President Shettima also applauded the efforts of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate. He particularly highlighted Pate’s role in boosting local production of medical supplies and expanding primary healthcare facilities nationwide.
Despite progress, Shettima acknowledged persistent challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare system. “Nigerians continue to grapple with significant healthcare hurdles such as escalating medicine costs, prolonged hospital wait times, and a shortage of healthcare professionals,” he said.
Shettima emphasised the importance of private sector engagement in ensuring the success of the reforms. He noted that the private sector’s involvement is crucial to addressing the impacts of the medical brain drain and improving healthcare access and quality across the country.
“Our health sector calls upon us all to unite. The promise of this day is one we cannot overlook. It is through such collaboration and shared dedication that we can guarantee every Nigerian receives the care and support they deserve,” he added.
The newly commissioned Sahad Hospital in Abuja is equipped with 200 beds, seven state-of-the-art operating theatres, and advanced medical technology. This facility represents a significant boost to Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure.
Nigeria’s healthcare reforms aim to tackle critical sector challenges while attracting substantial investments. Since the establishment of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in 2019, over N130.8 billion has been allocated to improve healthcare services, with an additional N12.9 billion planned for 2024.
In recent months, President Bola Tinubu launched two major initiatives: the NSIA-Healthcare Expansion Programme and a retraining program for 120,000 frontline health workers. Additionally, a $1.2 billion Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) has been introduced to address long-standing issues such as inadequate financing, staff shortages, and poor infrastructure.
By 2027, the SWAp initiative seeks to create a unified, accountable healthcare system that leverages local and state governance to deliver comprehensive reforms, enhance healthcare access for all Nigerians, and improve service delivery across the country.
