In the proposed 2025 ‘Budget of Restoration’, President Bola Tinubu announced an ambitious plan aimed at ‘securing peace and rebuilding prosperity’.
The budget includes a record N49.74 trillion in proposed expenditures, reflecting a 41.9 per cent increase from the previous year.
However, amidst this huge growth, the healthcare sector remains largely underfunded, raising pressing concerns about the nation’s health priorities.
Nigeria accounts for 20 per cent of global maternal deaths, with a maternal mortality rate of 512 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2019, according to the World Health Organisation.
Additionally, UNICEF reports that one in eight Nigerian children dies before their fifth birthday, often from preventable diseases such as malaria and diarrhoea.
With increased investment, maternal and child health services could be improved, ensuring better access to immunisations and skilled healthcare professionals.
Unfortunately, over 70 per cent of healthcare facilities are concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural populations underserved.
The doctor-to-patient ratio in Nigeria stands at 1:5,000, far below the WHO recommended ratio of 1:600.
Targeted investments in healthcare infrastructure and human resources would help address these disparities and promote equitable access to medical services.
The economic impact of health-related issues is another major concern.
Productivity losses due to poor health cost Nigeria billions annually, while medical tourism drains over $1 billion each year, according to WHO.
Furthermore, the nation grapples with recurring outbreaks such as cholera and Lassa fever, alongside a growing burden of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
Analysts say strengthening local healthcare systems would not only mitigate these economic losses, but also save foreign exchange and boost national productivity.
They say increased funding for public health systems would enhance disease prevention, surveillance, and response capabilities, ensuring a healthier population.
In spite of these urgent needs, Nigeria allocates less than 5 per cent of its budget to health, falling far short of the Abuja Declaration 15 per cent target.
Comparatively, countries like Rwanda have demonstrated that meeting this benchmark leads to improved health outcomes.
With Nigeria’s population projected to reach 400 million by 2050, the need for immediate investment in healthcare infrastructure and services cannot be overstated.
The proposed 2025 health sector allocation of N2.48 trillion, representing 5.18 per cent of the total budget, reflects an increase in absolute terms but remains insufficient to meet the nation’s healthcare needs.
Compounding this issue is the depreciation of the naira, which diminishes the real value of budgetary allocations.
Rising inflation and a depreciating currency have also led to a steep increase in the cost of medical supplies and services, with the prices of some essential medicines skyrocketing by 1,000 per cent.
This financial strain is further exacerbated by inefficiencies in fund utilisation.
In 2023, only 17.29 per cent of the Federal Ministry of Health’s capital budget was spent, while by mid-2024, N5.4 billion in health capital funds under the Service Wide Votes remained unused.
Such inefficiencies undermine the potential impact of allocated resources and raise concerns about the healthcare sector’s capacity to manage funds effectively.
International organisations have stepped in to support Nigeria’s healthcare challenges.
For instance, the World Bank recently approved a $1.57 billion financing package, of which $570 million is designated for strengthening primary healthcare services.
While these contributions are significant, they do not absolve the government of its responsibility to adequately fund and reform the health sector.
Healthcare professionals like Ms Fatima Mohammed, a nurse in Kaduna State, are already feeling the strain.
“My colleagues have left for the UK or Canada. I’m managing three shifts daily because we are short-staffed,” she stated.
The allocation of N46 billion to address healthcare workforce migration is a step in the right direction, but its implementation remains uncertain in a system plagued by inefficiencies.
Patients like Mrs Uche Eze, a mother of three in the Federal Capital Territory, are also struggling.
“The price of drugs has doubled, and we can’t even afford basic malaria treatment,” she lamented.
With Nigeria’s per capita healthcare spending at a mere N11,724 (approximately $7.80), individuals are often left to bear the brunt of out-of-pocket costs, pushing many families deeper into poverty.
Perhaps the most alarming development is the 97 per cent reduction in family planning funding, which has dropped from N2.23 billion in 2024 to just N66.39 million in 2025.
For women like Hauwa Abdullahi, a 28-year-old mother of four, this cut has life-altering consequences.
“I wanted to space my pregnancies, but the clinic said they no longer have contraceptives. Now I’m pregnant again.
“Such drastic reductions threaten Nigeria’s reproductive health goals, increasing maternal mortality rates and unintended pregnancies.”.
As Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate (the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare) aptly stated, “Our health workers are the backbone of our healthcare system, and we must invest in their training, retention, and compensation”.
He notes that addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach. Increasing healthcare funding and ensuring efficient utilisation of resources is essential.
Many stakeholders argue that expanding health insurance and investing in the rural health workforce would improve access to care and attract private sector funding.
They also suggest that integrating social support programmes with healthcare could address issues like poverty, gender inequality, and education gaps.
Overall, while the road ahead is challenging, with targeted reforms and effective implementation, Nigeria can turn its ‘Budget of Restoration’ into real improvements in healthcare outcomes for all citizens. (NANFeatures)
