The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday said there was 35% shortage of essential medicines in all the medical facilities nationwide in 2023.
The report also said the challenges of infant mortality exists at 63 per 1000 live births.
NBS’ Statistician General, Dr. Prince Adeyemi Adeniran disclosed this during the launch of the National Health Facility Survey (NHFS) Report 2023 in Abuja.
He said: “Despite various reforms and investments by government and development partners, all aimed at improving the quality of healthcare delivery and outcomes, substantial challenges still exist such as infant mortality rates (63 per 1000 live births) according to the latest National Health and Demographic Survey (NDHS) and a severe shortage of essential medicines (35%) across all medical facilities nationwide.”
According to him, these persistent issues undermine our ability to provide equitable healthcare to all Nigerians, particularly in underserved and remote areas.
He lamented that the migration of healthcare professionals is another critical issue that has impeded the functioning of the healthcare delivery system.
Adeniran said many Nigerian doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers seek opportunities abroad for better salaries, improved working conditions, and career advancement.
He added: “Common destinations include the United States, the United Kingdom, and other developed nations.
“This trend has exacerbated the shortage of skilled healthcare workers in Nigeria which has put a further strain on our ability to meet the growing demand for healthcare services.”
He said the NHFS2023 builds on the groundwork laid by the previous surveys conducted in 2016 and 2019.
He added that the latest iteration incorporates several enhancements, particularly to the tools used in the data collection from the selected health facilities across the country.
These enhanced tools, according to him, provide a robust framework for systematically assessing the service availability of these health facilities and for evaluating the level of preparedness to deliver essential services effectively.
He said this year’s report also incorporates Service Delivery Indicators (SDIs), a set of tools developed in collaboration with the World Bank and the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC).
Adeniran said the SDIs focus on assessing primary healthcare service delivery, ensuring that the monitoring process promotes greater accountability, enhances governance, and facilitates more targeted interventions for improved healthcare outcomes.
He said Nigeria just like any other developing country, faces challenges in its healthcare delivery system, with issues such as insufficient funding for healthcare facilities, outdated infrastructure, and a shortage of skilled personnel.
Adeniran said as a result, many Nigerians continue to struggle with accessing quality healthcare within their immediate communities, particularly in the rural areas of the country.
The report, he said, plays an essential role in guiding efforts to address the challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He said the data provided in this report offers a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the current state of health facilities across the country.
He said it serves as a vital resource for policymakers, health administrators, and other stakeholders, offering evidence-based recommendations for informed decision-making.
According to him, “By utilizing this information, we can implement targeted interventions to address the most urgent issues in healthcare delivery, particularly at the primary healthcare level, where the need for improvement is most pressing.”
(The Nation)
