Salako Champions Domestic Health Financing Reform in Geneva, Switzerland

"The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has strategically directed the health ministry to implement comprehensive reforms that would guarantee sustainable and equitable health financing across the country.” Iziaq Salako.

 

Nigeria's Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has reaffirmed Nigeria 's commitment to strengthening domestic health financing as the foundation for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). 

He made the statement while pushing for a sustainable healthcare investment, during a high-level sideline event at the ongoing 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in Geneva.

The event, titled “The Future of Domestic Financing”, was co-hosted by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with global health development partners. It brought together health ministers, policymakers, donors, and technical experts to deliberate on strategies for building resilient and equitable health systems in Africa and globally.

Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian government, Dr. Salako emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration considers sustainable healthcare financing a national priority. With current out-of-pocket spending on health at a staggering 72%, he said Nigeria is taking bold steps to reverse this trend.

“The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has been deeply sympathetic to the plight of Nigerians burdened by healthcare costs,” Salako said.

“He has strategically directed the health ministry to implement comprehensive reforms that would guarantee sustainable and equitable health financing across the country.”

Salako highlighted that central to these reforms is the full implementation of the National Health Act (2014) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act (2022), which together form the legal backbone of Nigeria’s health financing structure. “Under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, a flagship of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is already seeing notable improvements. “

According to the Minister, health insurance coverage has increased by approximately 15% in the past two years, and all 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, have now established their own state health insurance agencies.

“These agencies are instrumental in expanding access to quality health services for the population, especially the most vulnerable,” he noted.

To further protect low-income citizens, the Minister stated that the government has operationalized the Vulnerable Group Fund and is in the process of establishing a Catastrophic Health Fund to cover high-cost conditions such as cancer and end-stage kidney failure.

To enhance sustainability, Dr. Salako also highlighted new financing mechanisms being introduced to diversify revenue streams for the health sector. These include proposed levies on telecommunications services, sugar-sweetened beverages, tobacco, and alcohol, as well as public health taxes and health impact bonds.