Nigeria's Health Sector Sees Gains, Minister Urges Doctors to Combat Quackery

Nigeria's health sector is reporting significant progress, with increased government investment yielding tangible improvements in healthcare delivery and outcomes. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, highlighted these gains while urging the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to take a leading role in combating quackery and strengthening professional accountability.

Salako pointed to the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which has achieved 84% implementation according to a recent review. The health sector's share of the national budget has climbed to 5.2%, and funding for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) has more than doubled from N131.5 billion in 2024 to N299 billion in 2026. This increased investment has directly benefited primary healthcare, with over 8,000 centers now receiving direct facility financing and nearly 4,000 facilities upgraded.

These investments have translated into improved patient access and outcomes. Monthly patient visits to Fund-supported facilities have surged from approximately 10 million in early 2024 to 45 million by mid-2025. Furthermore, initiatives targeting maternal mortality have shown success, with a 17% reduction in maternal deaths and a 12% reduction in newborn deaths recorded in high-burden areas. Over 48,000 women received free emergency obstetric care, and more than 4,000 free caesarean sections were performed.

On the workforce front, 37,000 health workers have been recruited into federal hospitals since 2024, and medical school quotas have been doubled. Health insurance coverage has also expanded, reaching over 22 million Nigerians, up from about 16 million in 2023. Despite these advancements, Salako stressed that the ultimate measure of success lies in patient experience, urging the NMA to focus on clinical governance, accurate reporting, and swift resolution of disciplinary cases to build trust and accountability within the profession.

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The government will never sacrifice public health on the altar of professional s