Nigeria achieved a slight reduction in out-of-pocket (OOP) health spending to 58.3% of total health expenditure in 2024, down from 58.8% in 2023 and a stark improvement from over 70% between 2015-2021, per the National Health Accounts (NHA) 2023-2024 report released by the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) oversight committee.
Total health spending surged to ₦10.42 trillion from ₦7.88 trillion the prior year, with households still footing 66% down from 70.3% while government contributed 12.4%, social health insurance 5%, and donor funding jumped to 19%. The collaborative report from the Health Ministry, NBS, Finance Ministry, WHO, and others aims to steer Universal Health Coverage (UHC) policies and resource allocation.
Capital spending lagged at 10.5%, signaling infrastructure gaps, as analysts warn persistent household dominance burdens women, children, and low-income groups despite gains from expanded insurance and public funding pushes. Stakeholders urge scaling pooled mechanisms like BHCPF, state insurance mandates, and higher budgets to slash OOP further and shield vulnerable Nigerians from care-induced poverty. This modest progress under Tinubu's reforms highlights momentum toward financial risk protection, though experts stress bolder insurance enrollment and donor integration via government channels for sustained equity.