The Healthcare Federation of Nigeria has stressed that technology-driven private sector innovation remains critical to improving healthcare quality, affordability and access, as the country grapples with high out-of-pocket spending and limited public funding.
Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, ahead of the 2026 Annual Conference of the HFN in Lagos, the President of the federation, Mrs Njide Ndili, said the private sector had already demonstrated its capacity to transform healthcare delivery when given the right policy support.
Ndili cited the Federal Ministry of Health’s recent decision to allocate a federal tertiary hospital to private organisations as evidence that government was beginning to recognise the value of private-sector expertise.
“In December last year, the Federal Ministry of Health allocated a tertiary hospital to private organisations to improve the quality of care in federal facilities. That is a big win.
“This only happened because facilities like FMC, which were privately operated, showed what is possible when proper systems are put in place. They are now almost world-class,” she said.
She added that sustained advocacy and demonstration of success were gradually influencing government policy.
“When we showcase what the private sector has done, government listens. It may take time, but they are moving, and we are very happy about that,” she said.
On healthcare affordability, Ndili noted that although enrolment into Nigeria’s health insurance scheme had increased significantly—from about five million to nearly 20 million—millions of Nigerians, particularly those in the informal sector, remained uncovered.
“There is what we call the ‘missing middle’. The majority of Nigerians are still not covered by health insurance.
“What the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority recognises is that the private sector, especially through HFN, can bring innovation to the enrolment process,” she said.
She explained that lessons from banking and telecommunications—sectors transformed by private-sector digital innovation—could be applied to healthcare.
“We don’t write cheques anymore; we use digital platforms. Telecom was unlocked by private initiatives. The question now is: can we bring that same innovation to healthcare?” she asked.
According to her, HFN is already working with the National Health Insurance Authority to identify private-sector innovators who can simplify enrolment through mobile technology and other digital solutions, thereby making health insurance accessible and reducing out-of-pocket spending.
“When people say healthcare is expensive, it’s because they are paying directly from their pockets. Insurance changes that dynamic,” Ndili said.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of HFN, Mr Olufemi Akingbade, said fragmentation within the private healthcare sector was a major driver of high costs, as hospitals often operate in isolation and bear the full burden of procuring equipment and infrastructure.
“Most private hospitals buy equipment individually, and that increases costs. “What HFN is trying to do is create synergy within the private sector,”Akingbade said.
He explained that the federation was exploring shared-use models, similar to fintech-driven efficiencies in banking, where facilities could jointly access critical equipment such as CT scan machines through regional hubs.
“If a facility buys a CT scan, it doesn’t have to serve only that hospital. Other facilities in the area can latch onto it. That way, costs are spread and healthcare becomes more affordable,” he said.
Akingbade added that HFN was also negotiating partnerships in the power sector to address electricity challenges faced by private hospitals, noting that energy costs significantly affect healthcare pricing.
“Power is one of the biggest challenges for private hospitals. If we can reduce energy costs through partnerships, healthcare costs will come down,” he said.
He further disclosed that HFN has signed memoranda of understanding with organisations such as PIVAC and the Health Emergency Initiative to improve emergency response, training, quality standards and public education.
“A lot of people don’t even know what to do during emergencies. Instead of taking action, they bring out their phones to record. Education and quality training are key,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Infinity Health, Mrs Irene Nwaukwa, emphasised the role of technology in strengthening public-private partnerships and standardising care delivery across Nigeria.
“The fastest way to leapfrog our healthcare challenges is through technology—technology in regulation, enrolment and actual care delivery,” she said.
Nwaukwa noted that digitising primary healthcare centres would improve accountability, reduce medical errors and eliminate conflicting narratives during health emergencies.
“If our primary healthcare centres were fully digitised, with electronic medical records and clinical decision-support tools, doctors would work strictly within guidelines, and we wouldn’t have multiple versions of events when tragedies occur,” she said.
She disclosed that pilot projects were already underway to digitise primary healthcare facilities under the Nigerian Children’s Health Initiative, noting that the approach combines software, infrastructure and diagnostics.
“We shouldn’t wait two months for test results to be sent abroad. Diagnostics should be accessible locally, and technology makes that possible,” she said, adding that lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic showed the dangers of weak primary and secondary healthcare systems.
Also contributing, the Chairman, Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors, Lagos State, Mr Julius Adekoya, commended HFN for bringing diverse healthcare providers, policymakers and financiers together.
“This is the first step—bringing everyone to the table. Once policymakers, banks and practitioners are aligned, it becomes easier to drive sustainable reforms,” he said.
The Healthcare Federation of Nigeria Annual Conference 2026, themed “Transforming Healthcare: Leveraging Private Sector Innovation to Achieve Quality Outcomes and Universal Health Coverage,” will hold from March 4 to 5, 2026, in Lagos.