The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and unlocking the nation’s healthcare value chain through strategic global partnerships, with a specific focus on Brazil’s health system model.
In his remarks at the 2nd Session of the Nigeria–Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism on Tuesday in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, outlined several key reforms and achievements under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII), while proposing a formal framework for deepening Nigeria–Brazil health cooperation.
Salako said the Tinubu administration’s health reform is anchored on four pillars, effective governance, equitable quality health systems, unlocking healthcare value chains, and strengthening health security with digitalisation, strategic financing, and workforce transformation as cross-cutting themes.
“President Tinubu’s administration is prioritizing the health sector through expanded budget allocation, a 52% increase in two years and the implementation of 21 strategic policies aimed at strengthening the health system and promoting local pharmaceutical manufacturing,” Salako said.
He increased the major milestones to include: “Primary Healthcare revitalisation, with over 37 million Nigerians reached as of 2025; Workforce Reforms: Reduced recruitment bureaucracy, task shifting, and increased training capacity for health professionals.
Health Insurance Expansion: Coverage rose by over 15% in one year, with new schemes for vulnerable groups and catastrophic health needs; Reform of BHCPF: Improved transparency and timely fund release; Value Chain Growth: Through the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Health Value Chain (PVAC), 87 local manufacturers now benefit from government incentives and Global Recognition: Two Nigerian-made medicines obtained WHO prequalification a first in West and Central Africa.
Others are: Tertiary Care Expansion: 12 new tertiary hospitals and over 500 projects executed in 61 institutions, including six new cancer centres; Digital Health Push: Launch of the Nigerian Digital in Health Initiative and Preventive Care Boost: Introduction of HPV and malaria vaccines, cervical cancer elimination efforts.”
In a statement by the deputy director of information and public relations) in the ministry, Alaba Balogun, Salako emphasized the importance of learning from Brazil’s Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), which provides free healthcare to 70% of Brazilians and has achieved a 77% reduction in infant mortality since 1990.
“Brazil’s family health and oral health teams’ model, success in generic drug legislation, and globally recognized pharmaceutical capacity offer strong templates for Nigeria’s own reforms,” he noted.