Healthcare Financing in Nigeria: Reps Tasks FMH, Others on PPP Framework Policy
By Paul Effiong
The House of Representatives has mandated the Federal Ministry of Health and it Committee on Healthcare Services to come up with a vibrant policy framework that will provide for the utilization of Public Private Partnerships, PPP, in healthcare financing in Nigeria.
The House also mandated it Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure strict compliance and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
This followed an adoption of a motion moved during plenary by Hon Chidi Mark Obetta.
The motion entitled: “The Need to Utilize Public Private Partnership, PPP, to Bridge the Gap in Healthcare System in Nigeria, especially Healthcare Finance in Nigeria.
During his debate, Hon Obetta informed that a Public Private Partnership, PPP, is an agreement between the government and the private sector with the aim of providing essential public services through investment and risk sharing to ensure effective rewards to the public;
The lawmaker further observed that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission ,ICRC, was established in 2008 to regulate Nigeria’s public-private partnership,PPP, efforts with the objective to address physical infrastructure deficits as well as promote vibrant economic development.
He, however noted that according to WHO statistics, Nigeria’s healthcare system is ranked 157 out of 176 by the World Health Organization,WHO.
According to him, the House is aware that access to healthcare is a fundamental human right which is a very crucial indicator of sustainable economic growth.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker further maintained that the House is aware that the Nigerian healthcare system is currently facing challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited resources as well as shortage of trained professionals adding that these challenges have impacted negatively on our health sector.
Meanwhile the House also used the opportunity to raise concern over continuous migration of healthcare professionals from Nigeria.
The House, he stated is equally conscious that transparency in Public Private Partnerships, PPP, and the Service coverage will ensure that healthcare services are accessible and will address the out-of-pocket expenses while ensuring that private sector partners meet high standards of service quality.
Further more, the House is cognizant that formulating policies on healthcare services through Public Private Partnerships can enhance accessibility and even address financing issues in Nigeria, thereby enhancing the healthcare system’s strategic and dynamic nature.
The speaker later urged for the amendment of the motion even as Special Duties was added.
