Minister seeks sustainable funding to power healthcare facilities

Minister Joseph Tegbe, the Minister of Power in Nigeria, has urged local and international investors to explore sustainable financing models to ensure the electrification of the nation's healthcare facilities. This call came during the National Healthcare Electrification Investor Matchmaking Forum, organized under the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative (NPHI) in Lagos. The event was jointly convened by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare alongside UK PACT and hosted by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Isiaq Salako. Attendees included representatives from federal and state governments, chief medical directors, development partners, and private sector leaders.

Tegbe emphasized the importance of reliable electricity in healthcare delivery, stating that it is not just an infrastructure requirement but a foundational element of the health system. He highlighted that the NPHI aligns with broader power sector reforms and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to make Nigeria a leading destination for quality healthcare on the African continent. According to Tegbe, the initiative offers an opportunity to integrate energy planning into health infrastructure development, deploying grid enhancements and renewable hybrid systems specifically tailored for health facilities. He assured stakeholders that the Federal Government would provide necessary commitment and inter-ministerial coordination to support these efforts.

The NPHI aims to address the persistent issue of energy poverty in the health sector, which has been a major barrier to healthcare delivery. Unreliable electricity affects essential functions such as operating theatres, cold chain systems, incubators, diagnostics, blood banking, and emergency response services. Dr. Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, stated that the initiative marks a shift from traditional donor-funded infrastructure to a sustainable Energy-as-a-Service model. Under this model, specialized providers will finance, deploy, and maintain reliable power systems for health facilities, ensuring continuous operation without direct management by the facilities themselves.

The program initially focuses on federal tertiary hospitals but plans to extend to primary, secondary, and private health facilities nationwide. A comprehensive governance structure has been established, including an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee, a 24-member Inter-Agency Technical Committee, Facility Energy Management Teams, and a dedicated project secretariat under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Support from organizations such as the United Kingdom Partnership for Accelerating Climate Transition (UK PACT) and Landell Mills International has been instrumental in shaping the initiative.

Tegbe underscored the significance of the initiative, noting that it presents a strategic investment opportunity driven by the demand across 35,000 health facilities nationwide, which serve over 200 million Nigerians. He mentioned that the Electricity Act provides the regulatory foundation for structuring Power Purchase Agreements, licensing mini-grid operators, and enabling state-level participation. The Federal Government has committed to achieving a 30% uninterrupted power supply to tertiary health facilities by 2027, marking a tangible step toward improving healthcare infrastructure.

In parallel, Professor Augustine Onyeaghala, a Professor of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology at Chrisland University, highlighted the untapped potential of Nigeria’s herbal medicine sector. He pointed out that the lack of political will has hindered the development of this industry despite its capacity to revolutionize healthcare delivery and expand access to quality medical care. Onyeaghala stressed the need for increased investment in standardized laboratories and healthcare equipment to support the growth of the herbal medicine economy, which is projected to exceed $250 billion globally by 2030. His research on herbal remedies such as bitter kola and bitter leaf has demonstrated their potential in treating conditions like diabetes and diabetic foot ulcers, suggesting their integration into clinical treatment protocols. However, he noted that translating existing scientific evidence into actionable policies remains a challenge due to insufficient governmental commitment.