Healthcare stakeholders have emphasised the need for supportive policies in the industry to encourage private sector involvement, especially in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria and the rest of West Africa.
The West African Private Health Federation (WAPHF), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development, brought this up during the first High-Level Policy Conference in Health (USAID). In order to address pressing issues and promote cooperation in the region’s healthcare industry, the conference brought together eight private health federations from West Africa.
Vice President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, Njide Ndili, emphasised the need of a public-private interaction and emphasised the critical contribution played by the public sector in supporting laws that encourage private sector engagement.
In addition to appreciating the efficiency of the private sector and its capacity to help government activities aimed at attaining UHC, Ndili emphasised the significance of strategic buying, governance, and sustainability.
The Nigerian delegation at the conference in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, demonstrated its dedication to public-private partnerships in healthcare. Ben Nkechika, DG of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission, and Mohammed Nasir Sambo, CEO/director general of the Nigeria Health Insurance Authority, were notable members of the Nigerian delegation. They both emphasised the influence of public-private partnerships on healthcare delivery as they discussed their perspectives on how well they work at the primary healthcare level.
Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) President Pamela Ajayi gave her firsthand knowledge of how her organisation expanded while assisting the government via lobbying, teamwork, and encouraging private sector participation. She provided examples of effective interventions and good results to illustrate how policy debates may influence legislative priorities and advance legislation that encourages private sector involvement.
The West African Private Health Federation is starting a Journey to Sustainability (J2su), with assistance from USAID, along with eight other federations. By the promotion of a robust and effective healthcare system, this programme seeks to develop the health sector throughout the eight West African nations.
A significant accomplishment, the High-Level Policy Conference in Health demonstrates the dedication of the West African private health federations. The conference pave the way for a powerful health sector in the area, bringing us closer to the goal of Universal Health Coverage by encouraging cooperation, information exchange, and spotlighting successful models.
