Dr Bolanle Oyeledun, Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Integrated Health Programmes, CIHP, has warned that high out-of-pocket payments for healthcare could push millions of Nigerians further into poverty and financial distress.
Speaking in Abuja during CIHP’s 5th Scientific Roundtable Series, Oyeledun said the situation was alarming, particularly in Nigeria, where more than 139 million citizens lived below the poverty line and struggled to afford basic healthcare.
She explained that a single health emergency could worsen poverty, stressing the urgent need for accessible, affordable health services through community-based insurance models that shared financial risk and promote inclusiveness.
According to Oyeledun, community health insurance schemes have shown promise by decentralizing coverage, pooling local resources, and encouraging collective responsibility for health financing within rural and low-income communities.
She noted that Nigerians already practiced informal saving systems like SUSU in the south, which could be adapted to promote consistent health savings and strengthened participation in community-based insurance plans.
However, Oyeledun emphasized that for such schemes to thrive, premiums must remain affordable and participation broad enough to spread financial risks, ensuring the systems remained stable and sustainable long-term.
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She urged the private sector to invest in host communities’ health, saying such contributions could yield mutual benefits through better health outcomes, productivity gains, tax credits, and corporate social responsibility recognition.
Philanthropists and non-state actors, she added, should also prioritize community health financing, as their investments could significantly improve access to care and transform the wellbeing of underserved populations.
Oyeledun called for collective action by government, private sector, civil society, and individuals to expand insurance coverage, reduce catastrophic payments, and guarantee quality healthcare without fear of financial ruin.
She also highlighted migrants’ vulnerability, noting that many internal migrants remained excluded from national health insurance schemes, leaving them exposed to high out-of-pocket expenses and severe financial hardship.
By pooling risks at community level, she said, insurance schemes could protect vulnerable groups, including migrants, and ensured equitable access to essential health services regardless of income or location.
Oyeledun added that success would require strong coordination among government agencies, healthcare providers, and communities to design insurance models tailored to local needs, realities, and existing social structures.
She further called for policy reforms addressing systemic causes of out-of-pocket payments, including improved government funding, stronger public health infrastructure, and better regulation of private healthcare providers.
Dr Kunle Kakanfo, Founder of Artificial Intelligence for Social Impact and Development, urged Nigeria to leverage artificial intelligence and digital tools to bridge healthcare gaps and improve access in underserved communities.
Kakanfo said innovations such as telemedicine, AI-driven diagnostics, and WhatsApp chatbots could increase access to quality healthcare, particularly for rural populations with limited access to hospitals and medical professionals.
He warned that many global health programmes collapsed once donor support ended, suggesting private sector involvement and improved management could sustain Nigeria’s healthcare financing and ensured programme continuity.
According to him, digital technologies can enhance transparency, accountability, and data-driven policymaking by providing real-time insights into service delivery, spending, and health outcomes across all levels of the system.
He added that AI-based tools could improve diagnosis accuracy, while telemedicine enabled doctors to consult remotely, reducing brain drain and providing affordable care to patients in remote communities.
Kakanfo also highlighted the potential of simple technologies like USSD codes and WhatsApp bots for patient engagement, allowing users to access medical records, chat with doctors, and order medicines online.
He noted that Nigeria’s youth were increasingly tech-savvy and more likely to engage with digital health tools than traditional systems, making technology adoption vital for the nation’s healthcare future.
By embracing AI and digital health, he said Nigeria could transform service delivery, expand access, and build a resilient, technology-driven healthcare system comparable to its progress in mobile financial inclusion.
Dr Temitope Ilori, Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, said Nigeria’s transition to national ownership of health programmes was essential for sustainability and long-term resilience of public health systems.
Ilori stated that building sustainable and equitable health systems required strong political leadership, coordinated policy efforts, and strategic investment in local production of medical commodities and diagnostics.
She lauded government initiatives like the Renewed Hope Agenda and the ATM National Technical Working Group, which strengthened integration of supply chains and improved nationwide health service coordination.
According to Ilori, policies such as the Presidential Value Chain Initiative are creating an enabling environment for local pharmaceutical production and attracting private investment into Nigeria’s healthcare industry.
She revealed that government partnerships with local manufacturers and international firms were enabling domestic production of HIV test kits, ARVs, and other life-saving commodities to enhance affordability and availability.
Ilori added that NACA was increasing domestic financing through inclusion of HIV services in national and state health benefit packages, ensuring vulnerable groups gained access to universal health coverage.
She ended that expanding local resource mobilization and sustainable financing mechanisms would strengthen Nigeria’s health security and guarantee long-term resilience against future health and economic shocks.
NAN
