Sustainable Healthcare System in Nigeria: Vision, Strategies and Challenges

Abstract

Every nation’s dream is for its government to achieve a sustainable improvement in the quality of life of its citizens. This can only be achieved through good governance and planned actions that detail the vision, mission, goals/objectives and strategies to be attained over a given period of time. Nigeria like other countries around the globe has not for once lacked any development plans. Unfortunately, with its current estimated population of 150 million and estimated total of 23,640 health facilities operated via a three – tiered governance structure, it is still ranked by World Health Organization at 187th position in its health system among 191 member states. This article reviewed related relevant literature which revealed that, for more than two decades ago, African countries including Nigeria have been plunged into economic crisis which seriously affected a large portion of their populations and raised social and political tensions. To achieve sustainability, there is need for transformative plans and solutions that requires cooperation among industries and the government through delivery of minimum set of cost – effective interventions, packages and revitalization of the country’s health system. Some of the major challenges of sustaining Nigeria healthcare system are: counterfeit and adulterated drugs, poor healthcare financing and sustainability, increased out-of-pocket expenditure, inadequate basic infrastructure/equipments/drugs and inequitable distribution, poor remuneration and other push factors, bribery and corruption and shortage of staff. This article concluded by recommending the following among others as the way forward; provision of a system of equitable distribution of healthcare facilities and drugs, implementation of cost – effective healthcare interventions plans, establishment of a functional and competent monitoring and evaluation systems.