WHA78: Nigeria’s Dr Salako Advocates For Bold Health Financing Reform In Geneva
At the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in Geneva, Switzerland, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made a passionate call for stronger domestic health financing as the cornerstone for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Speaking at a high-level sideline event titled “The Future of Domestic Financing”, co-hosted by Nigeria’s Health Ministry and global development partners, Dr Salako outlined the Tinubu administration’s sweeping reforms to reduce Nigeria’s heavy reliance on out-of-pocket health spending currently at 72%.
He highlighted key initiatives including the full rollout of the National Health Act (2014) and the NHIA Act (2022), expanded state-level insurance agencies, and new funding streams such as levies on telecoms, sugary drinks, and tobacco.
According to him, the Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a vision, it is producing a real impact, noting a 15% rise in health insurance coverage nationwide.
He also announced efforts to protect vulnerable citizens through the operationalisation of the Vulnerable Group Fund and plans for a Catastrophic Health Fund to cover high-cost illnesses like cancer.
The message from Geneva clearly shows Nigeria is charting a bold path towards equitable, resilient healthcare, one reform at a time.