As Nigeria strives to achieve universal health coverage (UHC), health sector actors have urged strategic purchasing by ensuring that available resources are well spent on health.
They said appropriate use of available resources will enable more Nigerians or the at-risk population to access health care.
Global Managing Director, Results for the Development Institute (R4D), Dr. Cheryl Cashinwho spoke at the Policy Dialogue on Strategic Procurement Reforms and Primary Health Care Financing, in Abujasaid strategic purchasing helps countries get more value, more health outcomes for the money that has been put forward for health services.
She urged the government to explore all the opportunities that can enhance more resources for the country through budget allocation.
“For strategic purchasing, we need to get more resources for health because currently, compared to many other countries, Nigeria still needs to do better but the government will start making efforts to get more resources for health. More importantly, we need to put this money to better use to get our money’s worth and that will also mean more health outcomes for the money we are currently spending,” she said.
general manager of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Prof. Mohamed Sambowho was represented by the Director General, Finance and Accounting of the Authority, Mr. John Okohstated that there was a need to institutionalize health sector reforms, coordinate all
stakeholder efforts, adequate and sustainable funding, political commitment at all levels of government and strategic harnessing of private sector potentials.
He said NHIA’s goal is to ensure financial access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians, adding that with the support of R4D and other partners, the organization is optimistic about the achievement of the objective.
