Executive Director of the African Health Economics and Policy Association (AfHEA), Prof. John Ele-Ojo Ataguba, has said that Nigeria faces deep health care inequalities caused by weak financing and low insurance coverage.
Ataguba, a health economist, spoke on Tuesday in Abuja during the National Health Financing Policy Dialogue organised by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and partners.
He explained that high out-of-pocket payments are driving families into poverty while government spending on health—about $14 per person—remains far below the $86 benchmark needed for basic services.
It was noted that fewer than 10 percent of Nigerians have health insurance, maternal mortality rates remain among the highest in the world, vaccination coverage is low, and regional gaps in health care continue to widen.
Ataguba called on the Federal Government to boost tax mobilisation, expand financing models, strengthen insurance schemes, and empower local governments to manage health resources to improve equity and move toward Universal Health Coverage.