Health Systems and Services

Human resources for health

The Federal Ministry of Health has a Human Resources for Health Unit whose functions include the planning, production and management of health manpower at the national level. As part of its planning function, the Unit has produced a Draft National HRH Policy in collaboration with the WHO and is about to develop an implementation plan for the policy.

Nigeria has a number of colleges of medicine, pharmacy, and nursing/midwifery involved in the basic and postgraduate/high level training and re-training of doctors, pharmacists, and nurses/midwives respectively. School of Radiography handles the training of radiographers while Schools of Health Technology train professionals such as Community Health Officers, Community Health Extension Workers, Laboratory Technicians, Pharmacy Technicians, Health Records Officers, and Health Records Assistants.

FMOH collaborates with some local universities concerning the in-service training of health manpower in the some areas.

One of the problems affecting the health sector is the lopsided distribution of health professionals in favour of urban centres. Also, some categories of health manpower are in short supply. There is an uncomfortable mix of under-utilization and over-utilization of the skills of health professionals depending on the geographic location and professional category/sub-category involved.

WHO provide guidance and support for effective analysis, planning and management of health workforce in Nigeria. Further to the development of HRH plan at Federal level, some states will be supported to develop HRH Plans to help focus on HRH at services delivery points, as part of strengthening the health system.

In Nigeria the majority of patients pay for medicines out of pocket, and unfortunately the cost of medicines is high and consequently unaffordable to most Nigerians. Drug distribution, unauthorized retailing, and poor quality and counterfeit medicines are some of the challenges that complicate the work of the drug regulatory agency NAFDAC who has been working tirelessly to ensure that availability of good quality, efficacious and safe medicines.

Traditional medicines are well accepted in the country. Efforts are being made to properly integrate traditional medicine into the Nigerian health system and WHO is providing technical assistance in furtherance of the African Regional Strategy for promoting the role of Traditional Medicines in the health system.

WHO devotes its efforts in this area to building capacity to obtain health expenditure information and utilize relevant health financing and economic evidence to formulate plans and policies and guide intervention for improving systems of health financing and social protection. WHO also provides technical assistance in determining the financial implications of scaling up priority health interventions in Nigeria.

Nigeria, is just at the point of tapping the full benefits of NHA such as the provision of tool for evidencebased decision-making in health policy, health financing, and health interventions and WHO is building capacity among staff members from the Ministry of Health and related government departments like Bureau of Statistics at State and Federal levels.

Health information, evidence and research policy

WHO is focusing on supporting the development of a strengthened National Health Information System that provides timely and quality information for decision-making. Support will be provided for developing functional Data base of basic indicators taking into Account Health MDGs.

A Services Availability Mapping exercise is being implemented in some states as part of efforts to develop the NHMIS. Development of and support in the use of standardized classification systems, including International Classification of Diseases (ICD), International Classification of Functioning (ICF) and other classifications will be promoted at the state level. National Health Research Policy and Plan and State Level Plans will be supported. In particular, support will be provided for analyses and strengthening of health research systems and health research policies by setting up National and State level coordination mechanism for Health Research, and supporting National Scientific Health Systems Research Dissemination meetings.

Essential national health research will provide information and input into decision making as to choice of cost effective and efficient health interventions. Focus will be on stimulating research into such areas as reducing risk factors and burden of diseases, improving health systems and promoting health as a component of development.