Nigeria will need about N712 billion annually to improve the health sector of the country according to civic technology organization, BudgIT
BudgIT, a body that focuses on ensuring transparency in government budgets, said this at the presentation of a report on Health financing analysis in Ebola affected countries: the Readiness of Primary healthcare centres (PHCs) to tackle diseases.
WorldStage Newsonline–Presenting the report in Abuja, the body examined healthcare finance in five Ebola affected countries: Nigeria, Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone.
BudgIT’s Lead Partner, Oluseun Onigbinde, said Nigeria can achieve tangible investments if it increases its budget for the health sector. He noted that 15 per cent budgetary provision for the sector was not sufficient and urged the Federal Government to spend more in the health sector particularly, capital projects that will enhance health system in the country.
Onigbinde said: “The budgetary allocation to health should be increased to cater to the needs of Nigerians as the health per capita is relatively low when compared to other African countries. If Equatorial Guinea could do $663 per citizen, then Nigeria can improve from $118 to at least $300.
“If the health budget is made to attain at least to 15 per cent of the national budget, as declared by the African Union, an additional sum of N712 (USD 1.9bn) will be needed to give the goal sum of N1.09tn (USD 3.03bn), and Nigeria can achieve more tangible investments in the sector.”