The Director of Operations of the AfriHealth Development Foundation, Nigeria, Dr. Chijoke Mbelu, has called for an enabling environment for healthcare businesses to thrive in order to improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Mbelu made the call while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the AfriHealth Exhibition and Conference organised by the foundation in collaboration with the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria in Lagos.
The conference had as its theme, “Healthcare Entrepreneurship and Mentorship: Guiding the Next Generation of Health Innovators.”
He said the business aspect of healthcare was critical to improving healthcare delivery in the country.
“The business of healthcare is very important in improving healthcare delivery because one cannot promote healthcare delivery without the business of healthcare,” he said.
According to him, the exhibition was part of the foundation’s efforts to promote healthcare businesses in Nigeria by providing a platform for organisations to showcase their services and innovations.
“If healthcare facilities do not showcase what they are doing, there is no way people will know about them. Hence, the need for an enabling environment for healthcare businesses to grow,” he said.
Mbelu noted that healthcare practice had evolved beyond simply opening a hospital or diagnostic centre and employing staff, stressing that strategic planning, creativity and adequate funding were essential for sustainability.
He lamented that many healthcare businesses shut down within five years due to poor planning and an unconducive operating environment.
He also said many young doctors were leaving Nigeria because they lacked motivation and support.
“Gone are the days when one could just open a hospital or diagnostic centre and expect people to patronise it automatically.
“So many businesses are closing down today because they are not properly structured, and many young doctors are leaving Nigeria because they are not inspired,” he said.
Mbelu said many Nigerians sought medical treatment abroad without realising that some of the same healthcare services were available locally.
He urged the government to promote healthcare businesses to increase awareness of available medical services within the country.
On funding, Mbelu called on the Federal Government to increase budgetary allocation to the health sector to 15 per cent in line with the recommendation of the World Health Organisation.
He described the current allocation to healthcare as inadequate.
He also urged the government to strengthen the health insurance scheme to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare spending by citizens.
According to him, genuine healthcare professionals and non-governmental organisations should be supported with grants, incentives and equipment to improve healthcare delivery.
“There is nowhere in the world where healthcare is not funded. The insurance scheme should be functional so that people will not pay for healthcare out of their pockets,” he said.
Mbelu also stressed the need for Nigerians to adopt a more proactive attitude toward healthcare.
He said many Nigerians often resorted to spiritual interventions instead of seeking medical attention for health conditions.
“People are more reactive than proactive in taking care of their health, and because of that, healthcare businesses are losing money,” he said.
