12/12/2025
Despite global commitments to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, about 76% of Nigerians pay for healthcare out of pocket (OOP), which is associated with a heightened risk of catastrophic health expenditures, hampering the desired progress toward universal coverage.
Though the National Health Act and the National Health Insurance Act mandates health coverage for all, onerous healthcare costs force individuals to delay or skip care, worsening health and economic outcomes. Government action to enhance financial protection and eliminate out-of-pocket expenses, especially for vulnerable groups, is essential to ensure a basic care package (prevention, diagnosis, medicines) for everyone, and fund vulnerable groups through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), shifting from voluntary to compulsory insurance to reduce out-of-pocket costs and achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
This access to affordable healthcare is crucial for healthier, resilient communities and progress toward Sustainable Development Goals.
On Universal Health Coverage Day, we call on governments and institutions to strengthen the mechanisms that make healthcare accessible to all.
