Prof. Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, says the Federal Government’s Health Sector Renewal Initiative will bring Nigeria closer to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He made the promise on Tuesday in Abuja, during the commemoration of the 2023 Universal Health Coverage Day, with the theme “Health for All: Time for Action.”
The day, which is observed globally on December 12 each year, aims to celebrate progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) and promote awareness about the importance of strong and resilient health systems in achieving UHC.
Pate stated that the federal government intends to fulfil its purpose by steadily extending health insurance coverage, guaranteeing healthy and viable risk pools, and creating an enabling environment for better public and private health care.
He further stated that the Health Sector Renewal Initiative announced by President Bola Tinubu, State Governors, and other stakeholders was aimed at putting in place the National Health System as envisioned by the National Health Act.
According to him, the ministry’s strategy for saving lives, reducing physical and financial pain, and producing health for all Nigerians is based on the country’s progress towards UHC.
He also stated that to enhance population health outcomes, people must have access to inexpensive and high-quality health care.
He added that “it requires effective governance, coordination, and collaboration among Federal Government, State Governments, development partners, as well as the citizens and civil society platforms.
“The sector-wide compact is based on a collective recognition that health is one of the keys to human capital accumulation.”
