Lagos: The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, has urged healthcare practitioners to prioritize Public-Private Partnership (PPP) as a viable approach to grow Africa’s healthcare system. Salako made the appeal during the Healthcare Leadership Conference session at the World Health Expo organized by the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the conference has the theme: ‘Enabling Market Access and Investment Readiness to Drive Health System Transformation.’ The three-day healthcare exhibition had exhibitors and companies across the African continent in attendance. Salako emphasized that PPP has remained a vital instrument to drive healthcare financing. Highlighting some of the Federal Government’s efforts towards healthcare development, Salako called for stronger synergy among health players to boost healthcare delivery financing and standard. He assured of the government’s commitment to continued partnership, describing the event as one of Africa’s most impactful programs.
Dr. Salako noted that a sustainable and standard healthcare system requires a stronger public-private partnership, adding that Africa has great expertise and resources that can be better harnessed through collaboration. Addressing Nigeria’s preparedness to prevent the transmission of Ebola, Salako mentioned ongoing high-level surveillance at all entry points of the country.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi, stated that the state government had embarked on healthcare financial reforms aimed at granting every Lagos resident access to quality healthcare. Abayomi explained that the state’s health insurance scheme would reduce out-of-pocket healthcare financing and promote access to care, enhance investment in the sector, and improve quality of life. He highlighted various health insurance packages across both public and private healthcare facilities as a way of promoting synergy between the two sectors.
The Exhibition Manager, Daniel Green, remarked that the expo brought together healthcare manufacturers, policymakers, and international companies to deliberate and shape the healthcare market across the African continent. He noted a significant economic hub in Africa capable of expanding the healthcare market, with over 300 exhibitors including representatives from China, India, Pakistan, Morocco, USA, and the United Kingdom.
Keynote Speaker Prof. Aliko Ahmed, Special Regional Representative, West Africa RCC, emphasized the need to improve the quality and standard of African products. He urged African manufacturers to prioritize standard, describing quality as key to market access. Earlier, HFN President Ms. Njide Ndili reiterated the need to strengthen the healthcare system through collaboration among stakeholders in the sector. She stated that the exhibition aims to promote healthcare market consumables, equipment, and services across Africa.