The Federal Government is planning to take over the payment of 28,000 health workers previously funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as the country prepares for changes in US foreign aid policy.
In an interview with Channels Television over the weekend, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, revealed that Nigeria was ready to assume full responsibility for its healthcare sector, especially in light of the recent shift in US government policy. The policy change follows US President Donald Trump’s executive order to pause funding for HIV treatment in developing countries, impacting the operations of USAID and other US foreign interventions. As a result, the US Department of State suspended the disbursement of funds from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which provides HIV treatment to over 20 million people worldwide, including 566,000 children under 15 in Nigeria.
While acknowledging the critical role of foreign aid, Pate stressed that Nigeria must reduce its dependence on external funding for healthcare. He pointed out that the government was already addressing the gap left by the suspension of US aid, with the recent approval of N4.5 billion by the Federal Executive Council for the procurement of HIV treatment packs.
Pate also emphasized that Nigeria’s healthcare system has long suffered from underinvestment, noting that over 70 percent of the country’s medications are imported, as well as more than 99 percent of medical devices. He called for a shift in the narrative under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which is determined to invest heavily in the healthcare sector.
“Quality healthcare is not cheap. We, as a country, have not invested in it yet, and we are asking for the highest quality healthcare,” said Pate. “Domestically, we have not invested. But we are capable and determined to take responsibility for our healthcare system.”
The minister further explained that 30 percent of the country’s health expenditure comes from the government, with the remaining 70 percent funded by private individuals. While foreign donors have supported the sector, Pate made it clear that the federal government must fill the gaps created by the suspension of US aid.
“We are not begging. There are 28,000 health workers being paid through US government support. They are Nigerians, and we must transition them,” Pate concluded, reaffirming the government’s commitment to increasing national ownership of the healthcare system.
