The meeting, held at the Conference Room of the Honourable Minister, focused on enhancing collaboration between the Bureau and the Ministry to improve service delivery, accountability, and overall health outcomes for Nigerians.
In his remarks, Arabi commended the Minister’s leadership and commitment to repositioning the health sector, describing it as a critical pillar of national development.
“The strength of any nation is directly tied to the health of its people,” he stated, noting that the Bureau remains committed to supporting reforms that improve institutional performance and citizens’ experience in public health facilities.
He noted that the Federal Government established the Bureau as a strategic reform agency mandated to initiate, coordinate, monitor, and sustain reforms across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). According to him, the Bureau has consistently worked with stakeholders, including those in the health sector, to strengthen governance systems and promote efficiency.
Mr. Arabi highlighted key reform interventions in the sector, particularly efforts to improve patient experience and reduce prolonged waiting times in public health facilities. Through service delivery reviews and performance assessments, the Bureau supported the strengthening of Service Charters, patient flow management systems, and accountability mechanisms.
“These reforms have contributed to measurable improvements in some facilities, including better patient scheduling, clearer service timelines, and reduced waiting periods,” he said, while acknowledging the need for greater consistency nationwide.
The Director-General also disclosed that in 2024, the Bureau developed a coordinating framework for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to expand primary healthcare access and address implementation challenges. He proposed revisiting the planned National Stakeholders’ Roundtable on the BHCPF framework to enable broader consultation and practical solutions to improve access, efficiency, and quality of care at the primary level.
As part of broader reform efforts, Mr. Arabi noted that the Bureau conducted induction training for Chief Executive Officers and Board members of selected Federal Medical Centres, deployed its Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) across health agencies, and undertook institutional assessments to strengthen performance management systems.
He further referenced the Bureau’s 2025 visit to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) to enhance collaboration in digital governance, staff training, and performance alignment.
Looking ahead, Arabi identified priority areas for deeper collaboration, including strengthening performance management and accountability systems, improving patient experience, promoting data-driven decision-making, expanding digital tools, and facilitating partnerships with NGOs and the private sector.
“Our role as a reform agency is not to duplicate the Ministry’s efforts, but to support, strengthen, and institutionalise systems that will ensure reforms deliver tangible and lasting benefits to Nigerians,” he said.
Responding, the Honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, thanked the Director-General and commended the Bureau’s sustained efforts in advancing reforms across the public service.
“Change is inevitable,” the Minister stated, stressing that reforms are neither purely technical nor solely political but require strong leadership, accountability, and performance-driven execution.
He observed that although Nigeria possesses vast intellectual capacity, national performance remains below expectations. He noted that some countries with fewer resources achieve better outcomes due to stronger governance structures and accountability systems.
Pate also expressed concern about the persistent trust deficit within the system, high mortality rates, and suboptimal service delivery. While acknowledging improvements at the federal level, he said performance at state and local government levels remains weak.
Reflecting on earlier reforms, the Minister recalled that efforts in 2004 to address Primary Health Care gaps led to the establishment of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund as a performance-based initiative, which he said contributed to saving approximately seven million lives.
Following his appointment in 2023,
Pate conducted a comprehensive sector assessment and identified four strategic priorities: a One Governance Framework to close organisational and performance gaps; Core Health System Strengthening to ensure sustainable funding for Primary Health Care Centres; Health Value Chain Optimization to improve regulation across public and private providers; and Health Security to strengthen disease surveillance, immunisation coverage, and emergency preparedness.
He described health sector reform as complex and demanding, citing systemic challenges such as bureaucratic bottlenecks, procurement delays, poor remuneration, slow recruitment processes, limited career progression, and delayed staff replacement—sometimes taking up to eleven months.
The Minister added that delays in accessing medical care are often linked to inadequate funding for drugs and medical supplies, underscoring the importance of partnerships with the private sector to bridge service gaps.
The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to sustained collaboration in advancing performance-based reforms aimed at improving healthcare service delivery and health outcomes for Nigerians.
E-signed
Aliyu Umar, FNIPR, FIIM