From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Federal Government has said that Nigeria achieves far less value on funds invested in healthcare due to corruption in the system.
Mandate Secretary, Health Services And Environment, Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA), Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, stated this on Thursday at the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) One Day Conference on “Engendering Corruption Free Primary Health Care (PHC) Delivery for All”
Fasawe, emphasised the foundational role of PHC in achieving equitable health outcomes, noting that effective PHC has the potential to resolve 80% of health needs in the nation, aligning with global health equity goals.
She however, lamented that corruption has continued to hamper PHC service delivery in the country.
Highlighting Nigeria’s stark health statistics, the Mandate Secretary juxtaposed global benchmarks, revealing Nigeria’s lagging indicators despite relative spending parity with other nations.
She attributed these deficiencies not solely to financial misallocation but also to systemic corruption manifesting in leadership ineptitude, opaque policies, and suboptimal governance structures.
The Mandate Secretary advocated for a strategic overhaul, promoting transparent governance, merit-based appointments, and rigorous performance monitoring within PHC management.
She lauded recent initiatives like the Sector Wide Approach and Basic Health Care Provision Fund audits, which aim to streamline fund utilisation and enhance accountability.
According to her, “Our vital health indices rank among the worst globally and are on the way to meeting the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Targets.
Simply, Nigeria achieves far less value on funds spent on Health.
“The Health authority at all levels in Nigeria have realised this, hence the drive of the government to spend more and most importantly, spend better.”
She added that “we must adopt the public health approach to making the PHC system corruption”
In his remarks, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali highlighted the pervasive issue of corruption within Nigeria’s health sector, pointing out its detrimental impact on governance and service delivery.
The Minister acknowledged the longstanding nature of corruption and the urgent need for collective action.
“The challenge we face is substantial. It permeates across institutions and undermines our efforts to improve health outcomes for all Nigerians. We must involve all stakeholders including state governments and civil society, to confront this issue head-on,” he said.
Reflecting on the complexities of tackling corruption within the health sector, the Minister outlined systemic issues ranging from budget allocations to procurement processes. He underscored the need for transparent practices and accountability measures to safeguard public resources.