By Maryam Aminu
The challenge of turning Nigeria’s health policies into real improvements in the lives of citizens will come under fresh scrutiny in Abuja next month, as health leaders and other key stakeholders gather to discuss how to close the gap between policy and implementation.
The discussion will be at the centre of the 2026 National Health Equity Conference organised by OneBarrow International Limited and scheduled to hold from October 13 to 15 at the Nigeria National Merit Award House, Maitama, Abuja.
The conference has as its theme, “From Policy to Impact: Care Coordination as the Core Engine of Health Equity.”
It will bring together policymakers, legislators, healthcare regulators, development partners, professional bodies, healthcare practitioners, private-sector leaders, civil society organisations, patient and community groups, academics and other stakeholders in the health sector.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, will serve as Chief Host, while the Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services, Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji, and the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, will attend as Special Guests of Honour.
The organisers said bringing stakeholders from different sectors together is important because improving healthcare delivery requires cooperation beyond the health sector.
Speaking ahead of the conference, the Chief Executive Officer of OneBarrow International Limited, Yemi Ajao, said Nigeria had developed several health policies and frameworks, but the bigger challenge was ensuring that they translated into action.
“Nigeria has developed important health policies and frameworks, but the real test is what happens when those policies reach the people and communities they are designed to serve,” Ajao said.
He said the conference would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to look at what was working, identify gaps and discuss practical ways of improving coordination and accountability in the health system.
Ajao said healthcare delivery involved several professionals and institutions, making cooperation necessary if patients were to receive proper and continuous care.
He specifically mentioned doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, health administrators and other healthcare professionals, saying each had an important role to play.
“Every healthcare cadre has a unique and complementary role to play. The patient experiences the health system as one system, regardless of how many professionals or institutions are involved in their care,” he said.
According to him, better coordination among healthcare providers would help reduce fragmentation, improve communication, strengthen referral systems and ensure that patients do not lose continuity of care as they move from one level of the health system to another.
The conference will also look at how poor coordination within the healthcare system affects people who already face difficulties accessing medical services.
The organisers said particular attention would be paid to underserved populations and communities that face barriers in finding and navigating appropriate healthcare services.
Technology and data will also form part of the discussions, especially their potential to improve transparency, feedback and accountability in healthcare delivery.
Ajao said citizens should have a stronger voice in determining the quality of healthcare services they receive.
“Citizens must understand their rights, have meaningful channels to provide feedback and be empowered to participate in conversations about the quality of care they receive,” he said.
He added that listening to patients and communities could help healthcare providers and policymakers identify problems earlier and respond better to emerging needs.
From talk to action
The organisers said the conference would not end with speeches and discussions, as participants are expected to work towards practical recommendations for improving healthcare delivery.
A post-conference communiqué and implementation roadmap will be produced to capture the key recommendations, commitments and areas requiring follow-up.
OneBarrow said the aim was to ensure that the discussions result in practical steps that could be pursued at the federal, state and local government levels.
The organisation said stronger implementation, accountability and cooperation among stakeholders were necessary to ensure that health policies ultimately produce better outcomes for Nigerians.
OneBarrow International Limited is a health equity, CSR and ESG-driven organisation that works on healthcare and operational systems through innovation, partnerships, policy engagement and integrated care solutions.
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