By Charles Okonji
Concerned about the current state of healthcare delivery in the country, the 1st Deputy President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji, has called for a more effective collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders to advance the nation’s healthcare delivery.
Dr. Membere-Otaji lamented the poor health indices in Nigeria, stressing that both public and private healthcare institutions are grappling with distinct but significant challenges.
The NACCIMA 1st Deputy made this call while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 Annual Conference of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), the private sector arm of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
Speaking on the theme, “Enhancing Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria: The Role of Private Medical Practitioners,” Dr. Membere-Otaji, who doubles as the Executive Chairman of Princess Medical Centre, pointed out that a nation’s health indices goes beyond mere statistics, but reflects the value placed on human life.
“While the public health system in Nigeria is challenged by poor funding, dilapidated facilities, and poor patient experience, the private healthcare system suffers from weak regulation, inconsistent quality of service, limited access to affordable long-term financing, low health and social insurance coverage, and harsh microeconomic realities that worsen out-of-pocket healthcare expenses,” he averred.
He stressed the need for a stronger synergy between the public and private sectors, describing it as a critical step toward transforming Nigeria’s healthcare system and addressing its numerous challenges.
He affirmed that the shortage of skilled healthcare professionals has become a critical concern within the nation’s health sector.
According to him, achieving meaningful progress in Nigeria’s healthcare system will require strong political will, sustainable financing, strategic collaboration, and accountable leadership.
