Nigeria’s private healthcare operators have called on the Federal Government to create enabling policies and unlock access to long-term, single-digit financing that will allow them to scale services, reduce out-of-pocket spending, and strengthen the country’s fragile health system.

The demand was made at the National Health Financing Dialogue in Abuja on Tuesday, where stakeholders from government, finance, and the health sector gathered to chart a new course for sustainable healthcare funding.

Speaking on the sidelines with BusinessDay, Uchenna Mkparu, Chief Investment Officer of United Capital Infrastructure Fund, said the conversations are beginning to shift from demand to supply, opening up new opportunities for innovative financing.

“The environment and temperament for finance and investment are shifting favourably. The expectation is that these discussions then lead to tangible action, and we will be happy to see that happen,” he noted.

Echoing similar concerns, Njide Ndili, Chairperson, Healthcare Foundation of Nigeria, emphasised the need for the private sector to play a bigger role in complementing government spending.

“With donor funding reducing and government spending not at the level it should be, the private sector has a major role to play.

“What we need is an enabling environment for investment to expand the quality and reach of services, not just for those at the top of the pyramid but for the masses at the bottom,” Ndili said.

She added that the summit has been “phenomenal” in bringing stakeholders together to align strategies and drive implementation of actionable solutions after years of repeated conversations.

For Clare Omatseye, CEO, JNC International, the summit represents an opportunity to unlock the full potential of the private sector through policy reforms, long-term financing, and strategic partnerships.

“Seventy percent of healthcare in Nigeria is provided by the private sector, but it remains fragmented. To scale, we need long-term, patient capital, seven to ten years, in single digits, and denominated in naira, not dollars,” Omatseye argued.

She further stressed the importance of expanding health insurance coverage, creating guarantees for public-private partnerships, and promoting “health sovereignty” by supporting local pharmaceutical and healthcare manufacturing.

“We need a dedicated healthcare infrastructure fund that understands how the business of healthcare works. The government is already providing some enabling environment, but we must step it up to protect investors and strengthen partnerships,” she added.

Those who spoke with our Correspondent also highlighted the role of social determinants, such as infrastructure, nutrition, and education improving health outcomes.

They urged governments at all levels to prioritise investment in these areas to reduce pressure on an already overstretched health system.