SIR: Despite the efforts recorded in accessing public health services, access to high-quality health care remains a pressing global issue. In developing countries such as our country Nigeria, traditional barriers to quality health care are exacerbated by inadequate health infrastructure and a shortage of health care providers. As a result, millions of people suffer and die from conditions which sound and effective interventions could have averted.
According to a World Health Organization/World Bank Group report titled “Global healthcare essentials” at least 400 million people globally do not have access to one or more essential health services; a good proportion in low and middle income countries are pushed further into poverty by out-of-pocket health care expenditure.
Sadly too, a recent study published in The Lancet estimates that 15.6 million preventable deaths occur in low and middle-income countries each year, including 8.6 million that probably could have been prevented through quality health care. Of those 8.6 million deaths, some five million are patients who were not given appropriate health care. Statistics like these underscore the fact that access to quality health care is an major concern — one that demands a coordinated, multi-faceted response. To address this issue, efforts must be made not only to ramp up available access to care but also to enhance existing medical infrastructure.
In Nigeria today, operationalizing the levers of improving health outcomes could be achieved by strengthening the Primary Health Care System. As it is the primary point of call for the vast majority of the populace requiring health care services (pregnant women, under – 5 children and the elderly), putting appropriate facilities in place such as befitting structures and adequate personnel to run the facilities would be a good starting point.
Secondly, as a vast population of Nigerian citizens does not have health insurance, an elaborate sensitization campaign could be sustained to educate the people on the importance having a cover and how that rubs off on society.
Fortunately, effective strategies and solutions have been conceptualized in the National Health Act and the health policies of the various states of the federation to help close gaps in health care delivery. Making it work requires conscientious efforts by appropriate funding by duty bearers and the nation’s development partners to achieve the object of improving health outcomes in the country.
- Samuel Julius,
Centre for Social Justice Nigeria