BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR-Expert gas called on key stakeholders to take urgent action in addressing the critical deficiencies undermining Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Speaking at a media training put together by Leadway Assurance in Lagos for Members of Nigerian Association of Insurance & Pension Editors (NAIPE), Oluwafemi Awoleye, Team Lead, Commercial business at Leadway Health, also warned that persistent gaps in funding, infrastructure, and personnel threaten the nation’s overall economic productivity.
With the stringent current economic conditions, which is reducing disposable income, Nigerians are now resorting to self medication for treatment of their ailments.
He identified difficulty in accessing healthcare services or seeing doctors, brain drain of medical professionals and shortage of healthcare
workers, inadequate funding, poor Investments in infrastructure and technology, and issues with the mode of reimbursement to hospitals as some of the gaps.
Others are; delay in claims payment to hospitals and broken pharmacy supply chain, leading to lack of medication at hospitals, urging journalists to amplify these issues through their difference media organisations.
Awoleye warned that, if the aforementioned gaps are not met, such poses a serious threat to the health and wealth of the country, since the output of every economic activity is a function of good health of its human capital.
Leadway health urged the media to play a more proactive role by holding policymakers accountable and driving public awareness that could spur meaningful reforms.
The group stressed that, the media remains a powerful catalyst for change, capable of shaping public discourse, influencing policy decisions and promoting evidence-based reporting on critical health challenges.
He maintained that, sustained and responsible journalism would not only expose systemic deficiencies but also spotlight innovative solutions, mobilise stakeholders and strengthen the collective push towards a more accessible, equitable and resilient healthcare system in Nigeria.
“The media can inquire about the level of compliance on the ground. Are employers in every state actually enrolling staff – or treating it as paperwork? Where does the money go? How are capitation and fee-for-service increases changing provider behaviour and quality?
