Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has urged health stakeholders, including the media to embrace balanced reporting that highlights both challenges and progress in the health sector, saying such narratives can transform public perception and strengthen confidence in ongoing reforms.
Speaking at a Media Advocacy Dialogue organized by the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) in Abuja, Pate said improving Nigeria’s health system requires not just technical expertise but a shared national consensus that places health and education at the centre of development priorities.
“For too long, we have focused on what’s broken without coming together to fix it. Health is not only technical, it’s a political choice reflected in how a nation allocates and uses its resources,” he said.
He explained that while years of underfunding had weakened the system, recent fiscal and monetary reforms—such as subsidy removal, tax restructuring, and exchange rate alignment—have boosted government revenue and opened new opportunities for investment in healthcare.
According to him, these reforms have provided states with more funds to revitalise primary health centres and recruit essential workers, but citizens must hold leaders accountable for how resources are used.
Citing milestones such as the revitalisation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), expansion of Primary Health Centres (PHCs), upgrades in tertiary hospitals, and training of frontline health workers, Pate said these achievements deserve equal media attention.
He stressed that sustaining progress requires a collective shift in mindset—anchored on transparency, collaboration, and constructive reporting—to build public trust and national confidence in the health system.
“With balanced reporting and shared accountability. Nigeria can inspire trust, sustain reforms, and deliver quality healthcare for all,” Pate noted.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, emphasized that PHCs remain the first point of access to medical services for millions, especially in rural areas.
He described them as the backbone of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and said recent reforms have restored public confidence in PHCs, reflected in increased patient visits across communities.
He urged citizens to engage more actively by using available services, demanding accountability, and supporting the system to ensure sustainability and improved outcomes nationwide.