Nigerian health professionals have called for a streamlined, seamless healthcare system to improve healthcare indices and create an environment where Nigerians can receive affordable, accessible and quality healthcare.The professionals under the auspices of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, HFN, said that the private sector attending to the healthcare needs of over 70 per cent of Nigerian patients underscores the urgent need to close the gaps between the private and public health sectors.Speaking to reporters about the organisation’s upcoming annual conference, themed: “Bridging the Gaps in Healthcare- Public-Private Integration as a Catalyst for Sustainable Growth” and scheduled for February 8–9, 2024, President of HFN, Dr Pamela Ajayi, stated that while the organisation has long discussed public-private partnerships, it was now time to discuss public-private integration as a means of improving the health system.“We are attempting to bring together the public and private sectors to work on achieving that streamlined, seamless health system that will work better for all of us. We have one set of Nigerian patients.”Ajayi, who also bemoaned the exodus of medical personnel to other nations, urged increased funding for the production of pharmaceuticals, emphasising that medications are essential for everyone’s existence.Noting that experts discussing drug-related topics will be present at the upcoming two-day conference with 79 resource persons, she said that Nigeria could not remain depending on external drug manufacturers.“Unlocking the pharmaceutical value chain is one of the conference’s main themes. There is also the need for low-interest funding to ensure that these funds can be invested into pharmaceuticals and to encourage research because a lot of our pharmaceuticals produce what we call generic drugs. What we need are specialised drugs and not just any specialised drugs, but drugs that work for us as Africans.”Speaking, the Vice President of HFN, Dr Njide Ndili said HFN over the years have been pushing and advocating for the inclusion of the private sector in the healthcare business system and currently the private sector is providing a critical pillar in terms of health systems delivery.She said that the new Coordinating Minister of Health, Dr. Ali Pate, the HFN and others in the private sector are speaking with one voice to make sure that they integrate into the health care delivery system, that the environment is favourable and the policies are favourable.
