Nigeria Calls for Local Research to Improve Health Insurance and Access

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has emphasized the need for Nigeria to develop its own health financing research to improve healthcare access and insurance coverage. This call was made by Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, the NHIA’s Director-General, during the inaugural Nigeria Health Financing Research and Learning Forum held in Abuja.

Dr. Ohiri stated that Nigeria must take charge of the research that shapes its health financing policies. He noted that relying on occasional studies has limited the country’s ability to build a solid evidence base for long-term reforms. He argued that past research efforts, while useful, have not provided the consistent foundation needed for effective policy-making.

He explained that having control over research does not mean isolating Nigeria from global partners. Instead, it means that Nigeria should define its own research priorities and use the findings to improve healthcare implementation. The forum aims to review several studies commissioned by the NHIA and learn from health financing experiences in other countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, and India.

Dr. Ohiri highlighted key areas for research, including mandatory health insurance, equity in healthcare, quality of care, and sustainability. He pointed out that Nigeria’s health insurance system is currently fragmented, with many government and private insurance schemes, which complicates sustainability efforts.

Plans for a national health financing observatory and a comprehensive research agenda were also announced. Dr. Ohiri stressed that evidence is crucial for supporting reforms that expand healthcare coverage and improve quality and financial protection for Nigerians.

Dr. Pavel Ursu from the World Health Organization praised the establishment of the forum, stating it provides a significant opportunity for Nigeria to turn global health financing commitments into actionable steps at the national level. Other speakers echoed the need for locally generated evidence to guide health financing reforms, emphasizing the importance of understanding the unique cultural and social factors that influence healthcare decisions in Nigeria.