Health Equity Conference Identifies Gaps in Nigeria’s Healthcare Delivery

Maryam Aminu

Stakeholders at the 2026 Health Equity Conference in Abuja have identified weaknesses in referral systems, access to affordable medicines, diagnostic services, healthcare workforce capacity and patient follow-up as challenges undermining effective healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

The stakeholders examined the issues during the two-day conference, held on October 13 and 14, under the theme, “Care Coordination as the Core Engine of Health Equity.”

The conference, convened by OneBarrow International Limited, brought together representatives of government, regulatory institutions, professional associations, healthcare providers and the private sector to explore practical approaches to improving coordination and continuity of care.

Discussions focused on how gaps between healthcare facilities and service providers affect patients moving through the health system, particularly those who require multiple consultations, diagnostic investigations, specialist referrals, medication and follow-up treatment.

Participants also highlighted barriers to healthcare access in rural communities, concerns about healthcare financing and accountability, fragmented health information systems, patient privacy and weaknesses in discharge planning and complaints management.

To examine these challenges, the conference adopted a policy-lab approach organised around five areas: governance and regulatory frameworks; financing and sustainability; service delivery and care coordination; workforce, data and technology; and community engagement and health equity.

A fictional patient, Amina, served as a common reference point for the deliberations, enabling participants to examine potential gaps from the patient’s first contact with the healthcare system through diagnosis, treatment, referral, hospital admission, discharge and follow-up.

The exercise highlighted how poor communication between providers, unavailable medical records, incomplete referrals and financial constraints could interrupt treatment, increase costs and leave patients struggling to navigate the healthcare system.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs Adijah Elijah, Population Programme Officer, called on stakeholders to translate health policies into practical improvements that Nigerians could experience.

She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building a health system that is accessible, affordable, equitable, resilient and responsive to the needs of the population.

Elijah also highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 3.

She identified the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach as frameworks for strengthening coordination, aligning investments and improving accountability across the health sector.

According to her, the success of healthcare reforms should be measured by their impact on people’s access to appropriate services, protection from financial hardship and the quality of care available to underserved communities.

The Chief Executive Officer of OneBarrow International Limited and conference convener, Yemi Ajao, said patients should not be left to coordinate their own treatment because healthcare institutions and professionals fail to communicate effectively.

Ajao said patients often have to carry medical records between facilities, repeat their medical histories and navigate referrals, costs and treatment arrangements without adequate support when coordination breaks down.

He explained that the conference was designed to provide a platform for stakeholders to identify gaps in healthcare delivery and explore opportunities for collaboration across institutions and professional groups.

Using Amina’s hypothetical journey, Ajao challenged participants to consider whether patients knew where to seek care next, whether receiving facilities had the information needed to continue treatment and whether referrals were completed.

He said the deliberations were expected to inform a proposed joint communiqué and implementation matrix outlining recommendations, potential institutional responsibilities, timelines and indicators for monitoring progress.

The proposed outcomes are subject to consideration by relevant institutions and should not be interpreted as government-approved policies or formal commitments by participating organisations.

Also speaking at the conference, Kamilu Abdullahi, who represented the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Mr Ndagi Alhassan, said regulatory agencies were pursuing a more coordinated approach to patient care through an initiative involving 14 regulatory bodies.

Abdullahi, who said he had been appointed a focal person for the health equity initiative, highlighted efforts to strengthen collaboration among regulators and improve professional standards within the healthcare system.

He said the council was working to expand nursing and midwifery training capacity, strengthen accreditation and ensure that practitioners remained competent and properly licensed.

According to him, admission quotas had increased in nursing training institutions, with some colleges doubling their capacity, subject to available resources.

He added that the council had expanded computer-based examinations, improved the timely release of students’ results and strengthened the accreditation of training institutions, including internship centres.

Abdullahi also said the council was providing supervisory support at the state level to verify nurses’ licences and ensure compliance with professional requirements.

He further highlighted national procedural guidelines developed for nurses, public health nurses and midwives to support professional practice and continuing skills development.

The conference produced ten recommendation areas and a proposed Joint Communiqué Implementation Matrix intended to link identified healthcare challenges with potential solutions, institutional responsibilities and indicators for assessing progress.

The recommendations address healthcare coordination, diagnostic quality, referral systems, workforce development, financing accountability, health-information exchange, community access and patient follow-up. Their implementation will depend on consideration by the relevant institutions and any necessary consultations, approvals and formal commitments.

OneBarrow International Limited is proposing the HEC 2027 Health Equity Awards and Gala to recognise individuals, communities, institutions and organisations contributing to healthcare coordination and health equity.

The proposed awards initiative is separate from the conference recommendations and does not constitute an institutional commitment arising from the deliberations.

The conference’s stated objective was to advance discussions on how better coordination among healthcare providers, regulators, government institutions and other stakeholders could improve continuity of care and ensure that patients receive appropriate services throughout their treatment journey.