From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Federal Government has highlighted the detrimental impact of corruption on Nigeria’s healthcare system, emphasising that the country receives far less value from its healthcare investments than it should.
Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary of Health Services and Environment for the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA), made this assertion at the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) one-day conference on “Engendering Corruption-Free Primary Health Care (PHC) Delivery for All.”
Dr. Fasawe stressed the critical role of Primary Health Care (PHC) in achieving equitable health outcomes, noting that effective PHC could address 80 per cent of the nation’s health needs, in line with global health equity goals. However, she lamented that corruption severely hampers PHC service delivery in Nigeria.
Highlighting Nigeria’s stark health statistics, Dr. Fasawe compared global benchmarks, revealing that despite similar levels of spending, Nigeria’s health indicators lag significantly behind those of other nations. She attributed these deficiencies not only to financial misallocation but also to systemic corruption, which manifests in leadership ineptitude, opaque policies, and suboptimal governance structures.
Dr. Fasawe called for a strategic overhaul of the health sector, advocating for transparent governance, merit-based appointments, and rigorous performance monitoring within PHC management. She praised recent initiatives such as the Sector Wide Approach and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund audits, which aim to streamline fund utilization and enhance accountability.
“Our vital health indices rank among the worst globally and are far from meeting the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Targets. Simply, Nigeria achieves far less value on funds spent on health,” Dr. Fasawe stated. “The health authorities at all levels in Nigeria have realized this, hence the drive of the government to spend more and, most importantly, spend better.”
She further emphasized the need to adopt a public health approach to eradicate corruption from the PHC system.
In his remarks, Professor Muhammad Ali, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, underscored the pervasive issue of corruption within Nigeria’s health sector and its detrimental impact on governance and service delivery. He 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,” Professor Ali stated.
Reflecting on the complexities of tackling corruption within the health sector, the Minister outlined systemic issues ranging from budget allocations to procurement processes. He stressed the necessity of transparent practices and accountability measures to safeguard public resources and ensure effective healthcare delivery.