By Milcah Tanimu
Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has sharply criticized the federal government’s handling of the healthcare sector, urging immediate reforms to ensure all Nigerians have access to quality medical care.
Speaking at the 6th Public Lecture of the Board of Fellows, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, in Awka, Anambra State on Wednesday, Obi highlighted Nigeria’s poor ranking on the Human Development Index (HDI) despite 25 years of democratic governance. He stressed that health, particularly life expectancy, is a crucial development metric.
“Life expectancy in Nigeria is among the lowest globally, currently at about 65 years. In comparison, India stands at 70, Bangladesh at 72, Egypt at 71, and the Philippines at 70,” Obi noted.
He outlined several critical issues plaguing Nigeria’s healthcare system: inadequate functioning of primary healthcare facilities, high infant mortality rates, reliance on expensive imported drugs, and impediments to local drug manufacturing due to lack of government support and regulatory challenges.
Obi criticized the government’s approach, stating, “The government does not understand what they are supposed to do to help our citizens.” He also highlighted the economic impact of poor healthcare, noting that many Nigerians can no longer afford treatment, with rising costs forcing them to spend most of their income on food.
He called for a comprehensive overhaul of the healthcare system, emphasizing the need for committed and compassionate governance. Obi proposed several solutions, including:
– Investing in critical areas of healthcare
– Supporting local drug manufacturing
– Designing affordable insurance schemes
– Lifting people out of poverty to enable participation in healthcare programs
“We must dismantle this criminality called Nigeria today and make it a country where people will know that they are elected to serve the people and focus on doing the right thing,” Obi asserted.
In a post on his X page, Obi reiterated the importance of access to quality medicines for all. “90 percent of all medical consultations end in one form of prescription or another. Therefore, the availability of quality medicines remains the key armor for the fight for well-being, while pharmacists remain the armorer,” he wrote.
He criticized regulatory agencies for functioning as revenue collectors rather than enablers and pointed out the lack of accessible financing and health insurance to guarantee care for those who cannot afford immediate cash payments. Obi concluded by highlighting the severe economic hardship and poverty that keep functional healthcare and quality medicines out of reach for many Nigerians, stating, “The only medicine our people take now is prayer.”