Nigeria’s recent health sector reforms have gained international attention at a high-level session during the 2025 World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Washington D.C. The event, themed “Scaling Health Reforms,” highlighted innovative approaches to improving healthcare systems around the world.
In a statement shared on its official X handle (@Fmohnigeria), the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare confirmed Nigeria’s active participation in the dialogue.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, joined other global leaders, including the WHO Director-General, the World Bank President, various health ministers, and executives from major pharmaceutical companies. Discussions focused on sustainable health financing, local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and new partnerships to strengthen primary healthcare delivery in participating countries.
Prof. Pate outlined Nigeria’s progress through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), which integrates government and donor resources around national priorities. According to him, the initiative has already produced measurable results:
“In the first half of 2025, revitalised primary healthcare facilities recorded over 80 million patient visits under the SWAp — a fourfold increase compared to the same period in 2023,” he stated.
He further explained that investments in local pharmaceutical production are creating jobs, boosting the economy, and building a more sustainable health delivery system. By 2030, Nigeria aims to produce a significant portion of its essential health commodities locally, reducing reliance on imports and strengthening the national supply chain.
Pate also noted that the country’s multi-donor trust fund and improved international partnerships are now aligned with Nigeria’s health priorities, marking a shift toward more effective development assistance.
“For the first time, global support is aligning with Nigeria’s own goals. This is how reforms translate from boardroom discussions to tangible results for communities,” he said.
These reforms are anchored in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places health at the core of national development and inclusive economic growth.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus commended Nigeria’s leadership and reaffirmed the WHO’s commitment to support the country’s health transformation alongside partners such as Gavi and the World Bank.
Nigeria’s involvement in this high-level dialogue underscores its growing influence in shaping health system reforms across Africa and other low- and middle-income countries. The discussions also paved the way for expanded technical collaboration, increased health financing, and stronger efforts toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Additionally, the meetings marked the launch of the Health Works Leaders Coalition, which aims to accelerate health reforms and reach 1.5 billion people worldwide with quality healthcare services by 2030.