FG Reviews Health Sector Performance, Say Progress Recorded in Primary, Tertiary Healthcare

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Ahead of the Joint Annual Health Review meeting scheduled for next week, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has said that the country is witnessing a marked improvement in the area primary and tertiary healthcare services.

However, the minister admitted that much still needs to be done in the area of secondary care services.
Pate who led other heads of agencies under the ministry to address journalists on the forthcoming 2024 Joint Annual Review (JAR) meeting to address a press conference on Thursday in Abuja said that a perception survey carried by the ministry showed that Nigerians are more impressed with improvements at the primary healthcare level.

He outlined objectives of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative which he said contained a comprehensive plan aimed at strengthening health governance, improving service delivery, and enhancing infrastructure across Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Reflecting on the journey so far, the minister said, “Since the signing of a compact agreement witnessed by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we have laid the groundwork for a healthcare system that serves all Nigerians.”
According to Pate, “the approach emphasizes accountability and effective resource management across federal, state, and local governments.”

The Joint Review, scheduled for next week, will provide an opportunity to assess Nigeria’s healthcare progress, including key metrics such as maternal and child health, access to primary healthcare, and progress in combating diseases like HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
Findings from surveys including insights from over 2,600 Nigerians on healthcare quality will shape ongoing reforms. “We’re not here to judge anyone,” noted the minister, adding “This review is about co-creating solutions and improving healthcare across every region.”

The minister said that the major focus of this year’s annual review meeting will be to assess the scorecard and encourage states to continue on the progress march, adding that the intention is not to mark good or bad but to see where we are doing well and where more efforts are needed.

He said the ministry has been able to generate data on the state-by-state performance ratings in terms of improvement in healthcare services and infrastructure.

The minister also said that his team has been able to carry out perception survey of Nigerians and their ratings for public and private health facilities as well as their assessment of the different levels of care – primary healthcare and tertiary healthcare services.

For primary and tertiary healthcare, he said Nigerians think they are good but that there is room for improvement in the area of secondary healthcare. Pate said the there is need to do more to improve the quality of care

The minister highlighted specific challenges facing the sector, including Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rates.

“Our data shows 172 local government areas account for half of the maternal deaths in the country. Targeting these areas with the best interventions will help us make tangible progress,” they stated, underscoring the need for collaboration at all levels of government.

Pate said government has also implemented systems to track healthcare delivery outcomes, enabling more data-driven decision-making.

 “With baseline data in place, we can now reliably measure improvement, helping us track the impact of these reforms and ensuring accountability,” he said.

Looking ahead, the minister said that federal government is focusing on expanding Nigeria’s healthcare workforce, improving medical infrastructure, and addressing funding gaps.