The Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP) has raised alarms about the growing difficulties private hospitals are facing in Nigeria due to the country’s economic downturn.
ANPMP’s Chairman, Dr. Odia Festus Ihongbe, explained that many hospitals are struggling to stay open as rising costs and declining revenues have made it increasingly difficult to provide adequate care. In an exclusive interview, Dr. Ihongbe revealed that the economic strain has led to a worrying trend of Nigerians opting for self-medication, which has resulted in severe health complications and deaths.
“The morgues are filling up with bodies while hospital beds are empty,” said Dr. Ihongbe. “People are coming to hospitals only when it’s too late, and often, they expect miracles. Many others prefer to self-medicate, relying on online resources to diagnose themselves and purchase medications from chemists until their conditions become critical.”
He also shared the grim reality that some families have resorted to abandoning their loved ones at hospitals, leaving them with death certificates but no means for burial.
In addition to these issues, Dr. Ihongbe lamented that private hospitals are unable to meet the federal government’s recently approved minimum wage of N70,000 due to low revenue. He questioned how the private sector could afford the wage, noting that private hospitals employ the majority of Nigeria’s medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers. The cost of paying salaries, particularly for non-medical staff like cleaners, has become unsustainable for many institutions.
“We provide 80 percent of healthcare services in Nigeria, yet the government has done little to support the private sector,” Dr. Ihongbe said. “We face constant price hikes for medical equipment and drugs. The cost of an oxygen machine, for instance, has skyrocketed from N25,000 to as much as N2 million.”
He also highlighted that the rising interest rates in banks make it difficult for hospitals to secure funding, as lending institutions are hesitant to support the sector.
Dr. Ihongbe emphasized that the only solution for Nigeria’s healthcare system is the revival of a functioning national health insurance scheme, which has been ineffective for over 20 years. He criticized the current system, which has been unable to cover more than a small fraction of the population and remains underfunded.
“The National Health Insurance Scheme collapsed years ago, and even when they increase coverage, it’s insufficient,” he said. “How can a fee of N700 cover a person’s medical needs for an entire month? It’s clear there’s no serious effort to fix this issue.”
Dr. Ihongbe also voiced concerns about the soaring costs of basic medications, such as paracetamol and syringes, which have seen dramatic price increases, making it even more difficult for Nigerians to access basic healthcare.
“The situation is dire,” he said. “The prices are unbearable, and people are dying because they can’t access the care they need. If we don’t address these issues, the situation will only get worse.”
He concluded by reiterating that the only way the healthcare system could work effectively was through a sustainable, functioning health insurance program, which, if implemented properly, could alleviate some of the financial pressure on both hospitals and patients.
