The Nigerian government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening health sector cooperation with Brazil as part of efforts to advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and bolster health system resilience.
Speaking during the Second Session of the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, hailed the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and Brazil as a strategic foundation for expanded collaboration in critical health sectors.
He outlined key areas for bilateral engagement, including pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical equipment supply, digital health systems, biomedical research, manpower exchange, and disease prevention and control.
“This dialogue offers a timely platform for Nigeria to learn from Brazil’s advancements in healthcare delivery and infrastructure, particularly in improving access and equity,” Dr Salako said.
He noted that although Nigeria operates a decentralised health system, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, remains firmly committed to UHC.
This commitment is being pursued through the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII), which is anchored on four pillars:
- Effective governance and leadership,
- Efficient and equitable health systems,
- Unlocking the health value chain, and
- Strengthening health security.
Progress in Nigeria’s Health Reform Agenda
Dr Salako cited recent achievements under the initiative, including:
- The revitalisation of primary healthcare targeting over 37 million Nigerians by Q1 2025,
- A 15% increase in health insurance coverage within one year via innovative schemes, and
- The reform of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to enhance transparency and performance.
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He also spotlighted the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Health Value Chain (PVAC), which has catalysed local manufacturing through tax incentives across nearly 1,000 Harmonised System (HS) codes, benefiting 87 pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Key milestones include:
- WHO prequalification of Nigerian-produced medicines—the first in West and Central Africa,
- Commissioning of a world-class Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) factory,
- Establishment of an upcoming Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) plant, and
- Expansion of tertiary healthcare with 12 new institutions and over 500 high-impact projects, including six cancer centres of excellence.
In addition, Nigeria is rolling out new vaccines—notably for HPV and malaria—and investing in digital health platforms to improve service quality, transparency, and citizen engagement.
Learning from Brazil’s Public Health Success
Dr Salako praised Brazil’s internationally acclaimed public health system—Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS)—noting its role in reducing infant mortality and expanding equitable access to healthcare.
“We are particularly interested in adapting Brazil’s family health team model and generic medicine policy, which have proven effective in primary healthcare delivery and medicine affordability,” he said.
To formalise this partnership, Nigeria has proposed:
- A dedicated Nigeria-Brazil Health Working Group,
- A five-year bilateral action plan focusing on:
- Health system strengthening,
- Vaccine production,
- Joint research and innovation,
- Medical workforce exchange,
- Cross-border disease surveillance and public health emergency response.
Dr Salako added that Nigeria intends to pilot community-orientated strategies inspired by Brazil and deepen collaboration on early warning systems and epidemic preparedness.
“The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is committed to deepening these partnerships, not just for the mutual benefit of Nigeria and Brazil, but for the broader good of global health,” he concluded.