Nigeria with a population of over 182 million people growing at a rate of 2.5 percent per annum has a life expectancy of 53/56 years (m/f) (Source: WHO Statistics 2017). The Nigerian healthcare system is structured into Primary, Secondary and Tertiary healthcare levels with the Local Government Areas (LGAs) responsible for primary healthcare, the State Governments responsible for secondary healthcare while the Federal Government is responsible for policy development, regulation, overall stewardship and providing tertiary care.
The regulatory environment for healthcare sector is quite complex. However, despite the challenges of doing business, Nigeria remains an important destination for foreign direct investment (FDI). McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) estimates that eight million households had incomes of USD 7,500 per year, MGI’s threshold for “emerging consumers”, whose income are enough to meet their basic needs and have money left to start buying more and better food, education and health services. An estimated 35 million could be living beyond this threshold by 2030 with consumption of healthcare goods in Nigeria expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.2 percent from USD 10.5 billion in 2017 to USD 115 billion in 2030.
Nigeria has five (5) hospital beds per 10,000 population with a total of about 25,000 public and private hospitals. Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) estimates there are about 50 consultant oncologists to about 180 million Nigerians with cancer treatment available only in Lagos, Oyo, Kaduna, Edo, Ondo, Sokotoand Abuja. There are about 50 neurologists and 40 neurosurgeons, 600 consultant paediatricians to manage and care for the nation’s 70 million children and only four forensic pathologists in the Country.