The Federal Government is reviewing the effectiveness of its health financing programs as Nigerians continue to face high out-of-pocket medical expenses despite increased public spending.
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) said the government had released N235 billion through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) over the past three years, making it increasingly important to measure the impact of the investment.
The authority disclosed this in a statement ahead of the inaugural Nigeria Health Financing Research and Learning Forum, scheduled for September 28–29.
The NHIA said health insurance enrollment had risen to more than 23 million Nigerians, but many households still face significant financial pressure from healthcare costs.
The two-day forum will bring together policymakers, researchers, healthcare professionals, and health financing experts to examine how limited resources can be used more effectively.
Discussions will focus on using evidence to determine which treatments and services should receive funding, how healthcare providers should be paid, and where health investments can produce the greatest impact.
The initiative is part of ongoing Federal Government health reforms aimed at expanding access, improving financial protection, and ensuring better value from healthcare spending.
The NHIA said Health Technology Assessment (HTA) would be an important part of the discussions. The process assesses the effectiveness, cost, and broader impact of medicines, treatments, and other health interventions before financing and coverage decisions are made.
The authority said it had already conducted HTA assessments on kidney replacement therapy, colorectal cancer screening, and treatment for advanced liver cancer.
The forum is being organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NHIA, Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation, Nigeria Health Watch, and the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research.
The organizers said the overall goal is to strengthen the use of locally generated evidence in health financing decisions and ensure increased spending translates into better healthcare services and greater financial protection for Nigerians.
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