The push for universal health coverage in Nigeria faces mounting headwinds as persistent insecurity and a severe shortage of healthcare workers threaten to derail progress, stakeholders have warned.
The challenges are compounded by inadequate funding and weak constitutional provisions for healthcare, creating a structural deficit that undermines service delivery across the country.
The workforce crisis is particularly acute, with a recent survey highlighting a stark disparity between the exodus of medical professionals and recruitment efforts.
Data indicates that only 36 formal health jobs have been advertised recently, despite the massive brain drain affecting the sector.
This staffing deficit limits the government's ability to maintain essential services, particularly in regions affected by security instability.
The situation follows earlier calls from a coalition of concerned Nigerians urging President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the healthcare sector.