Nigeria’s health sector experiencing unprecedented momentum — Health ministry

The Federal Ministry of Health says the health sector is experiencing unprecedented momentum.

This momentum, it says, is driven by a series of major developments strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, spanning international partnerships, technological innovations, and critical private-sector support.

In a statement released on Thursday, the ministry said, “Nigeria’s health sector is experiencing unprecedented momentum, marked by groundbreaking international agreements, landmark technological breakthroughs, and renewed private-sector contributions that reinforce President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for a resilient, modern, and globally competitive healthcare system.”

It added that as part of this momentum, Nigeria has signed a “historic” Memorandum of Understanding with Barbados Pharmaceutical Inc. to boost local drug manufacturing and enhance regional health security under the Healthcare Value Chain initiative.

The agreement covers cooperation on essential medicines production, regulatory alignment with NAFDAC, and plans for a Barbados-linked biomedical hub.

Coordinating Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Pate said the partnership “represents our shared commitment—Barbados and Nigeria—to close critical gaps in national and regional health security.”

Barbados’ Health Minister Dr Jerome Walcott described it as “a defining moment for the Global South.”

Prof. Pate also praised Prime Minister Mia Mottley and President Tinubu for their political will, noting that Nigeria’s growing pharmaceutical capacity and stronger regulatory framework position it as a rising continental player.

In another major milestone, the NNPC/Renaissance Joint Venture has donated $300,000 to sustain cancer radiotherapy services at the National Hospital, Abuja, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of its LINAC machine.

The facility, first donated in 2019, has treated over 2,000 patients, reduced radiotherapy costs by 80 per cent, cut treatment time from 12 minutes to two, and enabled subsidised care for more than 700 indigent patients.

PUNCH Online reported that Abuja cancer patients received a major boost after the donation.

Speaking on behalf of NNPC-NUIMS, Nkechi Anaedobe quoted Chief Upstream Investment Officer Engr. Oluwaseyi Omotowa, as saying, the funding is crucial because “sustaining such advanced technology requires consistent funding and proactive maintenance.”

The ministry said the support will ensure timely servicing, faster repairs, international-standard compliance, and the precise calibration required for life-saving treatment, aligning with the Federal Government’s push to expand reliable cancer care nationwide.

Nigeria has also entered the era of robotic-assisted surgery with the unveiling of its first Robotic Surgery Platform by Prof. Pate.

Developed by the Nisa Medical Group in partnership with Robomed Global and Nigerian experts in the diaspora, the platform marks a significant technological leap.

Prof. Pate commended Nisa founder, Dr Ibrahim Wada and his team for the breakthrough, noting it offers “greater precision, smaller incisions and quicker recovery,” and aligns with government reforms, including the expansion of health insurance to 50 million Nigerians.

Dr. Wada said robotic surgery has become the global standard, stressing that “while traditional open surgeries and even laparoscopy have limitations, robotic-assisted procedures offer unmatched precision and safety.”

The platform, made possible through diaspora collaboration and international partnerships, is expected to boost medical tourism and next-generation clinical care, reflecting the wider transformation underway in Nigeria’s health sector.

The ministry said these developments show a health sector “moving with purpose”, with global partnerships, advanced technology, and private-sector investments driving reforms.

Officials added that the progress “signals a sector on the rise—innovating, expanding, and building the systems required to meet the health needs of Nigerians and contribute to continental health security.”