The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to use the Public Private Partnership to deal with issues in the country’s healthcare delivery system.
The House's decision came after it approved a motion titled, “Need to utilize Public Private Partnership to bridge the gap in healthcare system in Nigeria,” presented by member representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze Federal Constituency, Enugu State, Mr Chidi Obetta, during a session on Thursday.
There have been criticisms from key stakeholders about the state of healthcare delivery in the country, with some calling for a complete overhaul of the structures at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
During the session presided over by the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, Obetta referenced World Health Organisation statistics ranking Nigeria’s healthcare system 157 of 176. He highlighted that the nation’s healthcare system “Faces challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited resources, and a shortage of trained professionals, which are further worsened by the continuous migration of healthcare professionals.”
He also mentioned that a transparent PPP and service coverage “Will ensure that healthcare services are accessible and will address the out-of-pocket expenses while ensuring that private sector partners meet high standards of service quality.
The House mandated its Committee on Healthcare Services to work with the Federal Ministry of Health and “Develop a policy framework that will provide for the utilization of PPP in healthcare financing in Nigeria.” They argued that formulating policies on healthcare services through public-private partnership can enhance accessibility and address financing issues in Nigeria, thereby enhancing the healthcare system’s strategic and dynamic nature.
The House also mandated the Committee on Legislative Compliance to guarantee compliance and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.