The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, has said the state government is restructuring primary healthcare centres on both the supply and demand sides.
On the supply side, he said the state is addressing the PHC infrastructure gap through major renovations and three fit-for-purpose prototypes: Health Posts, Primary Health Centres and Comprehensive Health Centres. He said the designs are tailored to Lagos’ environment and improve ventilation, infection prevention and energy efficiency.
Abayomi said the state is also accelerating digitisation through SHIP, noting that the Smart Health Information Platform connects providers and enables better use of health data for clinical care, planning and early warning.
"Quality must accompany investment. HEFAMAA is moving towards a single regulatory standard for public and private facilities, while the PHC Board coordinates more than 300 PHCs. A new PHC Board headquarters is also under construction.
"The Traditional Medicine Board is being rebuilt and strengthened to regulate practitioners and improve the relationship between traditional medicine and the formal referral system," he said.
On the demand side, the commissioner said mandatory health insurance is a major reform. He said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s 2024 Executive Order aims to move Lagos away from out-of-pocket payments towards pooled financing, with cross-subsidy protecting the sick and vulnerable. "13% of premiums is earmarked for equity, regulation, emergency healthcare and other critical system interventions," he said.
"But no single tier can close the financing gap. We need a harmonised three-tier approach bringing together Federal, State and Local Government resources alongside insurance, donors, PPPs and private investment.
"We also need to build the workforce, including through the planned University of Medicine and Health Sciences and our health facilities.
"The PHCB LGA Compact provides the platform to align these reforms with the realities and priorities of our 57 LGAs and LCDAs.
"The goal is not merely more facilities. It is a connected, sustainable health system that delivers better outcomes for Lagosians.
"Health is wealth. Let us build both," Abayomi said.
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