The director-general of the National Health Insurance Authority, Kelechi Ohiri, says Nigeria must embrace domestic resource mobilisation to reduce overdependence on external aid to strengthen its health system.

Mr Ohiri, who made this statement at the opening of the National Health Financing Policy Dialogue on Monday in Abuja, also called for innovative health financing models.

He described the global health financing environment as one of multiple transitions, with donor support shrinking while disease burdens continue to evolve.

“We are at a point of transition to government financing where, going forward, there has to be broader reliance on domestic resources. Our health system cannot afford the luxury of transitioning from infectious to non-communicable diseases slowly; we are dealing with both simultaneously,” he said.

He said that Nigeria faced a double challenge of rising non-communicable diseases alongside persistent infectious diseases.

“This is coupled with demographic shifts that demand greater investment in health and education to harness the potential of the country’s young population,” he said.

Highlighting Nigeria’s role in shaping global health policy, Mr Ohiri said that the country was instrumental in the adoption of a landmark resolution at the World Health Assembly on strengthening health financing.

He stated that the resolution committed countries to increase domestic investments, reduce fragmentation caused by donor dependency, and establish stronger systems for tracking and reporting health financing flows.

The NHIA chief said that Nigeria’s financing conversations must put people at the centre, not just infrastructure or models.

“People must be at the centre of the health system and at the centre of what we finance. That is why we are starting this dialogue with voices from the media, civil society, and communities,” he said.

He outlined the structure of the four-day dialogue, which includes sessions on community voices and civil society engagement, as well as health technology assessments and financing for mental health, among others.

He said that achieving sustainable and equitable health financing required cross-sector collaboration, transparency, and accountability.

“Health expenditure in Nigeria is still dominated by out-of-pocket payments. We can no longer continue this way. Expanding financial protection, particularly for the poor and vulnerable, is central to President Bola Tinubu’s agenda and to our collective effort to achieve universal health coverage,” he said.

He said that the NHIA was aligning its reforms with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s investment initiative to ensure equity and financial protection for all Nigerians. 

(NAN)