By Saminu Ibrahim
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, on Thursday called for sustained commitment, discipline and collaboration among federal, state and local governments to consolidate Nigeria’s ongoing health sector reforms and improve healthcare outcomes.
Pate said the country’s healthcare system had undergone significant transformation, moving from an approach largely focused on infrastructure and equipment provision to one that prioritises measurable results, accountability and improved health outcomes.
The Minister spoke in a closing remarks at the 2026 Joint Annual Review (JAR) held in Abuja.
He reflected on the evolution and completion of the IMPACT programme, describing it as an important phase in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its healthcare delivery system.
SINL Nigeria Online reports that the minister traced the foundation of the reforms to the designation of primary healthcare as a responsibility of local governments, which eventually led to the enactment of the National Health Act in 2014 and the establishment of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
He acknowledged the contributions of government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners and health sector advocates, particularly the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON), in pushing for the legislation.
Pate specifically commended the Emir of Shonga, a physician and former chairman of HERFON, as well as other stakeholders who sustained the campaign for a comprehensive legal framework to clarify governance and responsibilities within Nigeria’s health sector.
According to him, the World Bank initially supported Nigeria’s healthcare system through investment projects that concentrated on infrastructure, equipment and procurement, but the approach gradually shifted towards financing measurable outcomes.
He explained that the transition gained momentum around 2019, with greater emphasis on rewarding results rather than simply financing activities and inputs.
The minister said initiatives such as the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the Saving One Million Lives programme helped establish results-based financing in the health sector, while the IMPACT programme, approved in early 2020 with $650 million, served as a bridge between traditional investment lending and the emerging results-oriented approach.
He noted that the introduction of the Health Act and the BHCPF provided the legal and institutional foundation for strengthening primary healthcare financing and accountability.
Pate further explained that Nigeria’s transition into the Health Outcomes Programme (HOPE) approach in 2023 represented another phase of the reforms, with greater emphasis on strengthening national systems, supporting states and rewarding performance through domestic financing.
He said the sector-wide approach was helping to align federal and state governments, development partners and other stakeholders around common priorities, financing arrangements and accountability mechanisms.
The minister, however, stressed that sustaining the gains would require continuous reforms, effective implementation and stronger coordination among stakeholders.
He said the next phase of the programme would demonstrate what could be achieved within three years when all levels of government and development partners align their resources and efforts towards improving healthcare outcomes.
Pate disclosed that additional financing from the French Development Agency (AFD), alongside support from the Global Fund and other development partners, would help sustain the momentum, particularly in human resources for health, health insurance and primary healthcare revitalisation.
He expressed optimism that Nigeria could significantly improve its healthcare performance over the next five to ten years if stakeholders remained committed to implementing agreed reforms.
According to him, discipline in execution and collective political will are essential to achieving better maternal and child health outcomes and strengthening the country’s healthcare delivery system.
He cautioned against working in silos and unnecessary competition among institutions, urging stakeholders to prioritise collaboration and the broader interest of Nigerians.
“Health is an investment in the present and the future of this country,” he said, calling on political leaders to sustain their commitment to healthcare financing and reforms.
Pate congratulated the teams involved in implementing the IMPACT programme and commended the World Bank, state health commissioners, the Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies for their contributions to the initiative.
He described the completion of IMPACT not as the end of Nigeria’s healthcare reform journey but as another milestone in the country’s continuing efforts to build a stronger and more responsive health system.
