FG seeks sustainable financing to end financial barriers to critical care

The Federal Government has called for sustainable financing of intensive and critical care services to ensure Nigerians can access life-saving treatment without being pushed into financial hardship.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the call on Wednesday while declaring open the 11th Annual Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Intensive and Critical Care Society of Nigeria (I-CCSN) in Abuja.

Speaking on the conference theme, “Sustainable Financing for Intensive Care in Public Hospitals in Nigeria,” Salako said the country must develop financing mechanisms that strengthen public hospitals, improve financial protection for patients and ensure access to critical care is determined by medical need rather than the ability to pay.

He noted that critical illnesses, ranging from trauma and severe infections to maternal complications, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory failure and public health emergencies, require timely access to quality intensive care services, which often determine whether patients survive or suffer permanent disability.

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According to him, sustainable financing remains one of the greatest challenges facing the development of intensive and critical care services, particularly in public health institutions.

“Intensive care is inherently resource-intensive. It requires purpose-built infrastructure, adequate bed capacity, highly trained multidisciplinary healthcare professionals, reliable medical oxygen systems, mechanical ventilators, patient monitoring systems, essential medicines and consumables, diagnostic services, biomedical engineering support, uninterrupted utilities, and effective systems of clinical governance and quality assurance,” he said.

The minister lamented that many Nigerian families still rely on out-of-pocket payments for critical healthcare, a situation he said delays treatment, interrupts care and exposes households to catastrophic financial hardship.

“No Nigerian family should be forced to choose between financial ruin and access to life-saving healthcare,” he said.

Salako said the Federal Government is strengthening emergency and critical care services as part of broader efforts to build a resilient healthcare system, advance universal health coverage and improve national health security.

He disclosed that the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) has expanded from its pilot phase in the Federal Capital Territory to 34 states, with efforts underway to achieve nationwide coverage.

According to him, the government is also developing a digital emergency dispatch system that will connect callers, ambulances and emergency treatment centres to support real-time emergency response, patient tracking, referrals and claims management.

The minister stressed that improving intensive care services requires stronger coordination among emergency care, ambulance services, intensive care units, high-dependency units, operating theatres, medical oxygen systems, diagnostic services, health insurance schemes, workforce development and rehabilitation services.

He also called for stronger collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, healthcare institutions, professional bodies, research institutions, the private sector, development partners and civil society organisations.

Salako urged the I-CCSN to continue supporting the government through technical expertise, policy development, research, professional education and advocacy to improve patient safety and the quality of care.

He identified investment in human resources as another critical priority, saying Nigeria needs more physicians trained in intensive care, specialised nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, biomedical engineers and technicians.

The minister further said the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of reliable medical oxygen systems, adding that the Federal Government has responded by installing oxygen pressure swing adsorption plants in health facilities across the country.

He also advocated stronger referral systems, regional critical care networks, digital health technologies, tele-critical care and improved health information systems to reduce inequalities in access to life-saving services.

Salako called on participants to move beyond identifying challenges and develop practical, measurable and innovative recommendations that would strengthen the financing and delivery of intensive care services across Nigeria.

He said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare looks forward to implementing the conference’s recommendations in collaboration with the Intensive and Critical Care Society of Nigeria.