By Nafisat Makinde
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and unlocking the nation’s healthcare value chain through strategic global partnerships, with a specific focus on Brazil’s health system model.
Delivering remarks at the 2nd Session of the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, outlined several key reforms and achievements under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII).
Over 37 million Nigerians have been reached through Primary Healthcare Revitalisation as of Q1 2025.
Health Insurance Expansion has also seen significant progress, with coverage rising by over 15% in one year, including new schemes for vulnerable groups and catastrophic health needs.
Additionally, 87 local manufacturers now benefit from government incentives through the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Health Value Chain (PVAC), and two Nigerian-made medicines have obtained WHO prequalification, a first in West and Central Africa.
The Federal Government of Nigeria is proposing a formal framework for deepening Nigeria-Brazil health cooperation in areas such as local pharmaceutical and vaccine production, research and development, training and workforce development, and epidemiological surveillance and disease control.
Dr. Salako emphasized the importance of learning from Brazil’s Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), which provides free healthcare to 70% of Brazilians and has achieved a 77% reduction in infant mortality since 1990.
“Brazil’s family health and oral health teams model, success in generic drug legislation, and globally recognized pharmaceutical capacity offer strong templates for Nigeria’s own reforms,” he noted.
The Minister expressed hope that the visit of Brazil’s Vice President and the ongoing dialogue would lead to formalized health partnerships that benefit not just Nigeria and Brazil, but also the broader global health community.
“We are confident that with strong political will and shared vision, the Nigeria and Brazil health partnership will contribute significantly to the prosperity and well-being of our two peoples,” Dr. Salako said.
