The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has advocated for reforms in the healthcare system, including the provision of affordable healthcare in the country, to increase the life expectancy of citizens in the country, News About Nigeria reports.
He stated this while speaking as a guest speaker at the 6th Public Lecture of the Board of Fellows, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, held in Awka, Anambra State, on Wednesday.
The former Anambra State governor noted that the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system requires urgent reforms to improve access to quality medical care for all citizens.
Obi also pointed out that Nigeria’s Human Development Index (HDI) ranking remains low, even after 25 years of democratic governance, adding that health, particularly life expectancy, is a critical measure of development.
He outlined several issues plaguing Nigeria’s healthcare system, such as the country’s minimally functioning primary healthcare facilities, alarmingly high infant mortality rates, the importation of the majority of drugs, which makes them costly and frequently out of reach for many Nigerians, and the impediments to local drug manufacturing caused by government support gaps and regulatory obstacles.
“When you want to measure this Human Development Index, the most critical measure number one is health—life expectancy.
“Life expectancy as we know it today in Nigeria is among the lowest in the world. We are about 65 years, compared to India at about 70, Bangladesh at about 72, Egypt at about 71, and the Philippines at about 70.
“We have a system that does not understand what they are supposed to do to help our citizens.
“Many people with many illnesses can no longer afford treatment. Nigerians now spend more than their income on food because everything has tripled,” he stated.
He called for a complete overhaul of the system, emphasising the need for committed and compassionate governance.
Peter Obi further suggested several solutions, including, investing in critical areas of healthcare, supporting local drug manufacturing, designing affordable insurance schemes, and lifting people out of poverty to enable their participation in healthcare programmes, among others.
