Building a Solid Health Care System in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects

Innocent, Eme Okechukwu

doi:10.5901/ajis.2014.v3n6p501

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…In the study by Uzochukwu and Unwujekwe [31], it was found that at the initial point when the user-fees was introduced along with the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF), there was significant improvement in medicines availability and improvement in health services; however, as the health workers became de-motivated and involved in selling their own drugs for their own profit, the policy failed. Thus, the present finding that an overwhelming proportion of study participants usually do not find their prescribed medicines in the hospitals, only buttresses the notion that Nigerian hospitals are in a decayed state and nothing more than consulting clinics [32, 33]. Nigerian hospitals are referred to as mere consulting clinics because both “free drugs” (as practiced in some states in Nigeria) and even the essential medicines are not available, thus, making the care of common ailments difficult [33].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Overdependence on For-Profit Pharmacies: A Descriptive Survey of User Evaluation of Medicines Availability in Public Hospitals in Selected Nigerian States

2016

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ObjectiveLower availability of medicines in Nigerian public health facilities—the most affordable option for the masses—undermines global health reforms to improve access to health for all, especially the chronically ill and poor. Thus, a sizeable proportion of healthcare users, irrespective of purchasing power, buy medicines at higher costs from for-profit pharmacies. We examined user evaluation of medicine availability in public facilities and how this influences their choice of where to buy medicines in selected states—Cross River, Enugu and Oyo—in Nigeria.MethodsWe approached and interviewed 1711 healthcare users using a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire as they exited for-profit pharmacies after purchasing medicines. This ensured that both clients who had presented at health facilities (private/public) and those who did not were included. Information was collected on why respondents could not buy medicines at the hospitals they attended, their views of medicine availability and whether their choice of where to buy medicines is influenced by non-availability.Principal FindingsRespondents’ mean age was 37.7±14.4 years; 52% were males, 59% were married, 82% earned ≥NGN18, 000 (US$57.19) per month, and 72% were not insured. Majority (66%) had prescriptions; of this, 70% were from public facilities. Eighteen percent of all respondents indicated that all their medicines were usually available at the public facilities, most (29%), some (44%) and not always available (10%). Reasons for using for-profit pharmacies included: health workers attitudes (43%), referral by providers (43%); inadequate money to purchase all prescribed drugs (42%) and cumbersome processes for obtaining medicines.ConclusionsLower availability of medicines has serious implications for healthcare behavior, especially because of poverty. It is crucial for government to fulfill its mandate of equitable access to care for all by making medicines available and cheap through reviving and sustaining the drug revolving fund scheme and encouraging the prescription of generic drugs in all public health facilities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Overdependence on For-Profit Pharmacies: A Descriptive Survey of User Evaluation of Medicines Availability in Public Hospitals in Selected Nigerian States

2016

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“…There is an absence of clarity of roles among the tiers of government who are responsible for the poor state of the health sector in Nigeria [18].…”

Section: A the Nigerian Health Care System And The Classifications Of Hospitals In Nigeriamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These classified organizations of the health system should allow the effective functioning of the health system, but the performance of the Nigerian health sector is still described as poor. There is an absence of clarity of roles among the tiers of government who are responsible for the poor state of the health sector in Nigeria [ 18 ].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of market concentration on health care price and quality in hospital markets in Ibadan, Nigeria

Awoyemi

Olaniyan

2021

Journal of Market Access & Health Policy

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Evidence about the Nigerian health indicators show that the quality of health care in Nigeria is low and inflation of health care prices also persists. Theoretically, by observing the market concentration, inferences can be drawn as to how hospitals conduct themselves, which allows the evaluation of the market performance. Therefore, the effects of market concentration on the health care price and quality were examined.Market concentration was measured by Herfindahl Hirschman Index (HHI) and four hospital concentration ratios (CR 4 ). The values of HHI were disaggregated into the less and more concentrated markets. Quality of health care was measured by the staff-nurse-patient ratio. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) was used to estimate the effects of market concentration on price and quality of health care.The price of health care was found to be 13.4% lower in the less concentrated markets than in the more concentrated market. Income significantly and positively influenced health care prices by 17.8%. Also, a low HHI lead to 33.4% increase in Staff-nurse Patient Ratio (SPR) indicating that the quality of health care was higher in less concentrated markets as hospitals increased the treatment intensity via staff-nurse patient ratio.A less concentrated market is linked with higher health care quality and lower health care prices. Therefore, a strategy that will reduce market concentration so as to enhance consumer welfare in terms of price and quality is recommended.

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“…The federal government has no say in how states utilize their allocations, and cannot mandate them to spend a certain amount on healthcare, making it difficult to gauge the effectiveness of any campaign for improvement on a cohesive nation-wide level. Consider that the Federal Ministry of health usually spends about 70% of its budget in urban areas where only a shabby 30% of the population resides, what an existential irony (Innocent, 2014).…”

Section: Challenges and Prospects Of The Nigerian Health Sectormentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Government Health Expenditure on Economic Growth in Nigeria 1981 - 2016

Yusuf¹

2020

Preprint

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This study empirically examined the relationship between government health expenditure on economic growth in Nigeria using Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a proxy to economic growth which is the dependent variable and the independent variables are Capital Expenditure on Health (CAPEXP) and Recurrent Expenditure on Health (RECEXP). The Error Correction Mechanism results showed that the system corrects to equilibrium at the speed of 43.40%. The study also employed the OLS regression analysis to estimate the model and the R2 showed a 94% significant relationship between government health expenditure and economic growth. The regression analysis results showed that the dependent variable (GDP) has; a positive and significant relationship with all the independent variables; every 1% unit increase in CAPEXP and RECEXP will increase economic growth by 140.1217 units and 190.7144 units respectively. Good public health is vital in any country, not only for the purpose of maintaining a healthy populace but also as a matter of national security. In view of these findings, to ensure sustainable economic growth, it is recommended that there is the need for the Nigerian government to double its budgetary allocation to the health sector - through the setting up of good administrative/monitoring team, the utilization of disbursed funds meant for capital projects can be closely monitored, especially in the area of procurement; adequate and equitable distribution of healthcare facilities should involve the interests of all citizens especially those in the rural centres. And to ensure efficient service delivery by the health/medical practitioners or workers, the government should ensure prompt payment of salaries and wages and other benefits of the health workers (doctors, nurses, lap technicians etc), as this will go a long way in encouraging them to work more efficiently. Thereby, resulting in improved service delivery in the country

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Building a Solid Health Care System in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects

Cited by 13 publications

References 5 publications

Overdependence on For-Profit Pharmacies: A Descriptive Survey of User Evaluation of Medicines Availability in Public Hospitals in Selected Nigerian States

Overdependence on For-Profit Pharmacies: A Descriptive Survey of User Evaluation of Medicines Availability in Public Hospitals in Selected Nigerian States

The effects of market concentration on health care price and quality in hospital markets in Ibadan, Nigeria

Impact of Government Health Expenditure on Economic Growth in Nigeria 1981 - 2016

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