Odita Sunday 
By Maryam Aminu
The 2026 Health Equity Conference has identified weaknesses in patient referral systems, access to affordable medicines, healthcare workforce capacity and health-information sharing as major challenges affecting healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The two-day conference, held in Abuja on October 13 and 14, brought together government representatives, healthcare regulators, professional bodies, healthcare providers and private-sector stakeholders to examine ways of improving care coordination and health equity.
Convened by OneBarrow International Limited under the theme, “Care Coordination as the Core Engine of Health Equity,” the conference produced ten recommendation areas and a proposed Joint Communiqué Implementation Matrix to guide consideration of possible reforms.
The recommendations address referral systems, diagnostic quality, workforce development, healthcare financing, information sharing, community access and patient follow-up. They remain proposals for consideration by relevant institutions and do not constitute approved government policies or formal institutional commitments.
Using a fictional patient, Amina, as a common case study, participants examined potential gaps across the healthcare journey, from initial assessment and diagnosis to treatment, referrals, hospital discharge and follow-up.
The discussions highlighted how poor communication between facilities, missing medical records, financial constraints and inadequate referral arrangements could interrupt treatment and leave patients struggling to navigate the healthcare system.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs Adijah Elijah, Population Programme Officer, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to translate health policies into measurable improvements in people’s lives.
She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to an accessible, affordable, equitable and responsive health system, while highlighting Nigeria’s goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030 in line with Sustainable Development Goal 3.
Elijah identified the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach as frameworks for strengthening coordination, aligning investments and improving accountability across the health sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of OneBarrow International Limited and conference convener, Yemi Ajao, said patients should not be left to coordinate their own treatment because healthcare institutions and professionals failed to communicate effectively.
He said the conference was designed to help stakeholders identify gaps in patient care, clarify areas of responsibility and develop practical proposals for improving collaboration.
Ajao added that the proposed implementation matrix would outline potential actions, institutional responsibilities, timelines and indicators for monitoring progress, subject to consideration and necessary approvals by the relevant institutions.
Also speaking, Kamilu Abdullahi, who represented the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Mr Ndagi Alhassan, said 14 regulatory bodies were involved in an initiative aimed at strengthening coordination in healthcare delivery.
Abdullahi, who said he had been appointed focal person for the health equity initiative, highlighted the council’s efforts to expand nursing and midwifery training, strengthen accreditation, improve professional licensing and maintain standards of practice.
He said admission quotas had increased in nursing training institutions, with some colleges doubling their capacity, subject to available resources. He also cited expanded computer-based examinations, improved results processing and stronger supervision of professional licences.
The conference organised its technical discussions into five policy labs covering governance and regulation; financing and sustainability; service delivery and care coordination; workforce, data and technology; and community engagement and health equity.
Separately, OneBarrow International Limited proposed the HEC 2027 Health Equity Awards and Gala to recognise individuals, communities and organisations contributing to healthcare coordination and health equity.
The conference emphasised the need to move beyond policy development towards practical collaboration and measurable improvements, particularly in ensuring that referrals lead to appropriate care and patients receive the information, treatment and follow-up support they need.
About the Author
