Poor coordination throughout Nigeria’s healthcare system leaves patients and their households navigating referrals, carrying medical information between amenities, and repeatedly explaining their medical histories as they search therapy.
Addressing these gaps was a central focus of discussions on the 2026 Health Equity Conference, the place stakeholders known as for stronger referral programs, improved data sharing and clearer accountability for patients as they transfer between healthcare suppliers.
Speaking on the convention, Yemi Ajao, Chief Executive Officer of OneBarrow International Limited, mentioned patients mustn’t have to navigate the gaps between hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies and specialist providers with out ample steerage.
Mr Ajao mentioned data and accountability for care should comply with patients as they transfer between suppliers, warning that poor communication and weak referral processes might depart them unsure about the place to search additional therapy.
“A patient does not experience healthcare as a collection of professional mandates, institutional departments or organisational charts. A patient experiences a journey,” he mentioned.
He urged stakeholders to determine the institutional and operational limitations stopping patients from receiving coordinated care throughout totally different amenities and ranges of the well being system.
The convention, held from 13 to 15 October, was themed ‘Care Coordination as the Core Engine of Health Equity’. It introduced collectively representatives of presidency, healthcare establishments, skilled associations and different sectors to focus on methods to enhance entry to healthcare.
Making referrals work
To illustrate the coordination gaps, Mr Ajao introduced a affected person state of affairs involving a lady named Amina. He requested individuals to contemplate what occurs when a affected person is referred from one healthcare supplier to one other.
He requested whether or not patients knew the place to go after receiving a referral, whether or not the receiving supplier had the knowledge wanted to ship applicable care, and whether or not anybody adopted up to affirm the referral was accomplished.
He mentioned these questions ought to inform choices about healthcare insurance policies, financing, and know-how.
The state of affairs highlighted the significance of treating care as a related course of relatively than a collection of remoted encounters with totally different suppliers.
When referral data isn’t shared successfully, or follow-up obligations are unclear, patients could have to coordinate their very own therapy, complicating entry to applicable care.
Mr Ajao mentioned the convention goals to study affected person journeys, institutional obligations, financing, partnerships, information, and implementation by means of plenary discussions and coverage laboratories.
He urged individuals to recognise the constraints going through establishments whereas figuring out sensible measures to enhance coordination and continuity of care.
He known as for collaboration amongst authorities companies, regulators, healthcare professionals, non-public organisations and civil society to tackle gaps in service supply.
According to him, efficient referrals, well timed data sharing and clear accountability for patients’ care might assist enhance the healthcare expertise and restore public confidence within the system.
“National pride grows when people can see their country working for them,” he mentioned.
Reforms should enhance patients’ entry
Also talking on the convention, Adijah Elijah, Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, mentioned authorities insurance policies and investments should translate into tangible enhancements in entry to healthcare.
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Mrs Elijah mentioned Nigeria’s dedication to attaining common well being protection by 2030 would require authorities establishments, healthcare suppliers, improvement companions and communities to work in the direction of shared priorities.
“Health equity is both a moral imperative and a practical investment in Nigeria’s human capital, productivity and sustainable development,” she mentioned.
She recognized the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach as frameworks for aligning investments, strengthening coordination and bettering accountability throughout the well being sector.
However, she mentioned the effectiveness of the well being system shouldn’t be measured solely by the variety of amenities established, the assets dedicated or the insurance policies adopted.
Rather, she mentioned, progress must also be assessed by whether or not folks might get hold of high quality healthcare with out struggling monetary hardship.
Mrs Elijah urged stakeholders to prioritise implementation and measurable enhancements in entry, significantly for underserved populations.
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