Nigeria Must Strengthen Healthcare Regulatory Institutions-NESG
Mohammed Shosanya
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has advocated the need to strengthen healthcare regulatory bodies in Nigeria.
The group gave the advice at a pre-summit webinar in preparation for the 30th Nigerian Economic Summit (#NES30),with the theme, “Strengthening Healthcare Regulatory Bodies in Nigeria”.
At the summit,gathered experts and stakeholders discussed the challenges within Nigeria’s healthcare regulatory framework as well as develop actionable recommendations for enhancing regulatory capacity to ensure effective healthcare regulation across the country.
Speaking,Dr. Oyebanji Filani, Ekiti State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, and Steering Committee member of NESG’s Health Policy Commission (HPC), emphasised the crucial role of a strong healthcare system in national development.
He spoke on the significant impact that well-resourced regulatory bodies can have on public safety, investor confidence, and overall healthcare quality in Nigeria.
According to him,addressing current challenges urgently is essential to fostering an environment conducive to healthcare development, which in turn supports socio-economic advancement.
In his keynote address,Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the Unlocking Healthcare Value-Chain Initiative, noted that healthcare currently contributes 3-4% of Nigeria’s GDP, a stark contrast to 17% in the United States and 15-20% in Europe.
He emphasized the necessity of a robust healthcare system for national stability and competitiveness.
He also outlined the government’s ongoing healthcare reform plan, anchored on four pillars such as effective governance, improved population health outcomes, unlocking the healthcare value chain, and enhancing health security, particularly in pandemic preparedness.
He said the plan,which covers 2022-2026, includes cross-cutting themes such as regulation, financing, and digitalisation.
He further discussed the Presidential Initiative to unlock the healthcare value chain, launched in October 2023.
He explained that,the initiative involves 20 key regulatory agencies and five ministries and aims to increase local pharmaceutical production, reduce medical tourism,and attract investment.
Significant achievements, according to him, include a presidential executive order removing duties on machinery and materials for medical product manufacturing and the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to support research and development platforms for vaccine production and to strengthen regulatory bodies.
The stakeholders at the event highlighted the challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare regulatory bodies, such as limited budgets, insufficient staffing, and outdated laws.
These issues,they said,hinder thorough inspections, compliance enforcement, and the overall effectiveness of regulatory oversight, posing risks to patient safety.
The National Health Policy (2016) also pointed out the absence of an institutional framework to regulate quality and standards, and the lack of robust enforcement mechanisms that allows unqualified individuals to practice medicine illegally.
At the panel discussions,
Dr. Victor Gbenro, Deputy Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), underscored the role of MDCN in regulating medical education and upholding standards in medical training and practice across Nigeria.
She also addressed resource gaps that hinder the council’s ability to double the number of medical graduates.
Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),emphasised the importance of local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
She stated that manufacturing 70% of pharmaceuticals locally and importing 30% would allow for better monitoring and adherence to good manufacturing practices.
She assured that NAFDAC would continue to conduct routine and targeted inspections to ensure these standards are met.
Ms. Modupeola Ogundimu, Director, Lagos Zone, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), pointed out the challenges facing health insurance in Nigeria and opportunities for improving the regulatory environment to promote Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
She also discussed the impact of recent economic hardships on health insurance and the steps needed to strengthen the NHIA’s regulatory mandate.
Dr. Ajibike Oyewumi,Healthcare Quality Specialist, IFC, emphasised the importance of enhancing regulatory capacity through training, technology adoption, and establishing strong public-private partnerships.
She also noted the critical role of national health insurance in providing funding to ensure access to quality healthcare.
Dr. Abiola Idowu, Executive Secretary, Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA): highlighted HEFAMAA’s mission to enforce healthcare facility standards and accreditation in Nigeria.
She emphasized the need for increased investment in technology, training, and collaboration with stakeholders to improve transparency and public engagement in healthcare regulation.
Dr. Ameer El Telwany, CEO, Egypt Healthcare Authority (represented by Ms. Nermeen Ashour), shared insights on the reforms and system changes implemented by the Egypt healthcare system.
The webinar event underscored the importance of strengthening healthcare regulatory bodies to ensure a transparent and well-regulated healthcare sector in Nigeria.
The NESG affirmed that improved regulatory frameworks are essential for attracting domestic and foreign investment, enhancing the global competitiveness of African healthcare industries, and fostering regional integration and trade in healthcare products and services.
