Nigeria's Emergency Healthcare in Crisis as N26.3 Billion Fund Goes Missing

Nigeria'semergency healthcare systemfaces severe challenges due to inadequate infrastructure, limited ambulance availability, and a missing N26.3 billion emergency fund. The fund, established by the National Health Act in 2014 and equivalent to 5% of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), was meant to cover essential medical services during emergencies. However, the unaccounted-for funds have left frontline hospitals struggling to provide critical care to patients in need.

Why this matters: The crisis in Nigeria's emergency healthcare system has far-reaching implications for the country's overall healthcare infrastructure, and the lack of access to emergency medical treatment can lead to increased mortality rates and long-term health consequences for its citizens.

Between 2020 and 2024, N526.9 billion was approved for the BHCPF, with N26.3 billion allocated for emergency medical treatment. The cost of treating emergency cases in Nigeria has accrued to a staggering N200 billion over the past 10 years. A 2019 Emergency Response Africa (ERA) survey found that three out of four Nigerians had experienced at least one medical emergency in the previous five years, with over a quarter of the population having more than four emergencies.

Road traffic accidents have significantly contributed to the number of emergencies in Nigeria. In the fourth quarter of 2022 alone, 3,617 crashes were reported, marking a 6.01% increase from the previous quarter. Between October and December 2021, over 11,800 road traffic accidents occurred, resulting in approximately 10,200 injuries and 1,700 deaths.

Dr. Kayode Adesola, National President of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), expressed frustration, stating, "Since 2014, we the private medical practitioners have been treating emergency cases as stipulated by the law without being paid a dime... We need the senate to help us look for that money. Any of us can be a victim." Njide Ndili, Country Director of PharmAccess Nigeria, emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying, "We need to find the 2.5% of the PHCPF. Government needs to provide."

The National Health Act of 2014 established guidelines for the disbursement of the BHCPF, with 50% allocated to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), 45% to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and 2.5% each to emergency medical treatment and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The lack of access to emergency medical treatment has resulted in a significant burden on Nigeria'shealthcare system, with private hospitals forced to turn away patients due to non-payment for emergency services.

The missing N26.3 billion emergency fund has left Nigeria's emergency healthcare system in a critical state, with inadequate infrastructure and limited resources hindering frontline hospitals' ability to provide essential care. Private medical practitioners are urging the government to release the allocated funds to enable them to treat emergency cases effectively. As the cost of emergency treatment continues to rise, the need for immediate action to address this crisis becomes increasingly urgent.