By Mercy Adi
The Federal Government on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s health system through inclusive policies, digital innovation and strategic investments aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated this while delivering a keynote address at the Insights Learning Forum 2026 held in Abuja.
Salako said the government’s National Digital Health Architecture, already endorsed by all states and the Federal Capital Territory, is laying the foundation for an interoperable healthcare system anchored on the “One Patient, One Health Record” principle.
He added that innovations such as telemedicine are expanding access to quality healthcare, especially in underserved communities.
Speaking on the forum’s theme, “Strengthening National Health Systems Through Inclusive Policy, Innovation and Service Delivery,” the minister said it aligns with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative launched in December 2023 by President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, the initiative is focused on transitioning the sector from fragmented interventions to integrated systems capable of delivering measurable outcomes.
He noted that the administration’s Eight-Point Health Agenda and Health Sector Strategic Blueprint are driving reforms to address workforce shortages, infrastructure gaps, financing challenges and service fragmentation.
Salako said the reforms could generate annual economic returns of about N4.8tn by reducing preventable diseases, while also retaining an estimated N850bn lost yearly to outbound medical tourism.
He added that the measures could cut preventable maternal and child deaths by up to 50 per cent and significantly improve national health outcomes.
Highlighting progress so far, the minister said the government had developed over 21 strategic health policies, expanded health insurance coverage, and executed more than 500 high-impact infrastructure projects.
He added that 17 new federal tertiary health institutions and six Centres of Excellence for Cancer Care had been established, alongside efforts to revitalise primary healthcare facilities and strengthen research systems.
On health financing, Salako reiterated support for legislative moves to increase the Basic Health Care Provision Fund from one per cent to two per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
He disclosed that N235bn out of the cumulative N339bn BHCPF had been released and disbursed under the current administration, including N32.9bn in the second quarter of 2026.
According to him, the funds are supporting over 8,300 primary healthcare centres nationwide through performance-based financing tied to defined indicators.
The minister also highlighted efforts to strengthen the health workforce through expanded recruitment, implementation of the Health Workforce Migration Policy and engagement with professionals in the diaspora.
He added that over 3,000 primary healthcare facilities had been revitalised, while emergency medical response systems had improved, contributing to reductions in maternal and newborn deaths.
Despite the progress, Salako said more work remained and called on state governments, development partners, private sector players and health technology innovators to align with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Compact.
He said such collaboration would help eliminate fragmented interventions and ensure coordinated implementation under a sector-wide approach.
The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a resilient, equitable and technology-driven health system.
He also commended eHealth Africa for supporting the solarisation of 238 public health facilities across 12 states under the National Power for Health Initiative and strengthening health data systems and emergency response infrastructure.
Salako described the partnership as a demonstration of the impact of collaboration in improving healthcare delivery.