A major health coalition has issued a stark warning about the deteriorating financial state of Nigeria's healthcare system, stating that critical services are being severely disrupted.
System Under Severe Strain
The Health Sector Reform Coalition (HSRC) sounded the alarm during its joint yearly review held in Abuja on 20 November 2025. The coalition's Chairperson, Dr Mustafa Lecky, revealed that prolonged underfunding combined with the relentless Japa syndrome has left the nation's health infrastructure overstretched and struggling to function.
Almost every Nigerian knows a health worker, a former colleague, or their local doctor who has relocated abroad, Dr. Lecky stated, emphasizing the urgent need to halt this dangerous brain drain of medical professionals.
Insufficient Funding and Critical Gaps
While acknowledging the Federal Ministry of Health's efforts to address sector challenges—including a $200 million increase to the health budget to counter declining foreign aid—Dr. Lecky insisted these measures remain critically insufficient. He called for more innovative collaboration between civil society organizations and the government to ensure the Ministry of Finance releases allocated funds without delay.
The coalition commended the progress seen in the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), which has become the cornerstone of health reforms across all government tiers. We commend the steady progress being made with the transparent fund flow within the BHCPF, Lecky noted. However, this is not enough. The health sector needs significantly more funding.
Vulnerabilities and the Path Forward
Dr. Lecky highlighted several critical vulnerabilities facing the nation's health system. Our resilience in responding to outbreaks, climate-related health risks, and emergencies remains patchy and unimpressive, he warned. He pointed to severe shortages of human resources, uneven distribution of personnel, and inadequate training as major concerns that require immediate strategies to strengthen the domestic workforce.
On financing, he stressed the heavy burden of out-of-pocket expenses on households and the need to protect funding for essential services. He also identified deep equity gaps, including disparities in access for rural communities, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.
Dr. Lecky called for equitable access to basic health services regardless of location or income, and for building stronger systems capable of withstanding shocks like epidemics and climate events. While acknowledging progress in expanding primary health care facilities, he affirmed that much is still needed, particularly in ensuring adequate financing for PHC revitalization.
The HSRC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting accountability, transparency in resource use, and meaningful community participation in health decision-making to drive measurable improvements for all Nigerians, especially women, children, and vulnerable populations.
