By Muhammad Amaan
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has made a passionate call for stronger domestic health financing as the cornerstone for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in Geneva, Switzerland,
Speaking at a high-level side-line event titled “The Future of Domestic Financing”, co-hosted by Nigeria’s Health Ministry and global development partners, Dr Salako outlined President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s sweeping reforms to reduce Nigeria’s heavy reliance on out-of-pocket health spending currently at 72 percent.
He highlighted key initiatives including the full rollout of the National Health Act (2014) and the NHIA Act (2022), expanded state-level insurance agencies, and new funding streams such as levies on telecoms, sugary drinks, and tobacco.
According to him, the Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a vision, it is producing a real impact, noting a 15% rise in health insurance coverage nationwide.
Dr Salako also announced efforts to protect vulnerable citizens through the operationalisation of the Vulnerable Group Fund and plans for a Catastrophic Health Fund to cover high-cost illnesses like cancer.
The message from Geneva clearly shows Nigeria is charting a bold path towards equitable, resilient healthcare, one reform at a time.
