Public-private alliances are crucial to obtaining universal health care, according to stakeholders in the health industry.
They announced this at the first West African high-level policy conference on health, which was held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and was organized by the West African Private Health Federation in collaboration with the US Agency for International Development under the theme “Advancing the public-private dialogue to achieve UHC in West Africa.”
The parties agreed that PPP may help West Africa offer better healthcare.
According to the statement sent to our reporter, the conference brought together eight private health federations in West Africa, bringing together key players to discuss pressing issues and promote cooperation in the area’s healthcare industry.
Dr. Salma Anas-Ibrahim, Special Advisor to President Bola Tinubu on Health, spoke at the occasion and emphasized the new administration’s priorities while underlining the value of private sector participation.
The Healthcare Federation of Nigeria’s president, Dr. Pamela Ajayi, discussed her firsthand knowledge of the organization’s development and how it supported the government via advocacy, teamwork, and encouraging private sector participation.
Dr. Ajayi provided encouraging results and effective interventions to emphasize how policy conversations may influence legislative agendas and advance laws that encourage involvement in the private sector.
Furthermore, according to HFN Vice President Njide Ndili, enabling policies might make PPP easier.
In addition to appreciating the efficiency of the private sector and its capacity to help government activities aimed at attaining UHC, Ndili emphasized the significance of strategic buying, governance, and sustainability.
The West African Private Health Federation and eight other federations are starting a “Journey Towards Sustainability” with USAID’s support in order to strengthen the healthcare sector in all eight West African nations and promote a strong and effective healthcare system, according to the statement.
“The meeting is a significant accomplishment that demonstrates the dedication of the West African private health federations. The conference helps the area build a strong health sector and moves us closer to the goal of UHC by encouraging collaboration, information exchange, and the promotion of effective models.
“The Chief Executive Officer/Director General of the Nigeria Health Insurance Authority, Prof. Mohammed Nasir Sambo, and the Director General of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission, Dr. Ben Nkechika, were notable members of the Nigerian delegation.
“They both discussed their perspectives on how public-private partnerships have been successful at the primary healthcare level, highlighting their influence on healthcare delivery. Others include Dr. Olumide Okunola, a health specialist at the World Bank, and Dr. Uchechukwu Nwoku, a physician at the Federal Ministry of Health,” it stated in part.