•Says delayed funding undermines hospitals, workers, patient care
By Chioma Obinna
As the country’s health system struggle under poor budget releases, the National President of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, AMLSN, Dr. Casmir Ifeanyi, has expressed worry that Nigeria’s healthcare system is under severe strain as budgeted funds for the health sector are not being fully released, a situation, he said threatens lives, cripples hospitals, and demoralises healthcare workers.
In an interview with Good Health Weekly, Ifeanyi said: “Ultimately, budgeting without full fund release undermines effective healthcare delivery and erodes public trust. To safeguard the health and productivity of Nigerians, budgeted health funds must be fully and promptly released and implemented.
“This not only endangers lives but also demoralizes healthcare professionals and accelerates the loss of skilled personnel.”
Why a funding gap exists
On the causes of discrepancies between allocated and released funds, Ifeanyi pointed to systemic issues. “Funding shortfalls from weak revenues, corrupt practices such as budget padding and fund diversion, defective budgeting templates with unrealistic projections, low capacity utilisation delaying fund absorption, and lack of transparency in disbursement all compromise healthcare delivery.
These factors disrupt medical laboratory services, treatment systems, and erode public trust. Closing this gap requires strict financial discipline, transparency, and accountability.”
He emphasised that hospitals and laboratories are struggling to maintain equipment, procure essential supplies, and run diagnostic and treatment services.
“This leads to delayed care, misdiagnoses, and preventable deaths. Disease surveillance and outbreak response are weakened, while healthcare workers face frustration, burnout, and brain drain. Rural and vulnerable populations are hardest hit, deepening inequities.”
Role of international funding
Ifeanyi also highlighted Nigeria’s heavy reliance on foreign aid. “Substantial international funding provides vaccines, equipment, and essential drugs, but it can distort health priorities, weaken domestic accountability, and threaten sustainability if support ends. International funding should complement, not replace, government resources.”
Transparency and accountability critical
Transparency, he said, is essential to restore public confidence in the health system.
“The failure of federal tertiary institutions to publish Annual Financial Reports despite receiving budget allocations and generating revenue fosters opacity that enables mismanagement and corruption. Transparency deters corruption, ensures resources are efficiently used, strengthens planning, and safeguards confidence in the health system.”
Ifeanyi also proposed measures to address the problem: all ministries, hospitals, and agencies should publish allocations and expenditures; independent audits should be conducted and publicly disclosed; real-time digital tracking of funds should monitor disbursements; parliamentary committees and anti-corruption agencies should enforce oversight; citizen engagement through public dashboards should be encouraged; finance and health administrators should be trained in modern financial management; and sanctions should be enforced for mismanagement.
Citizen oversight matters
Citizens, he emphasised, play a vital role in holding officials accountable. “Mechanisms such as the Freedom of Information Act, National Assembly public hearings, watchdog groups like BudgIT and Transparency International Nigeria, anti-corruption agencies, and digital platforms like GIFMIS allow citizens to monitor fund releases, question discrepancies, report misuse, and advocate for corrective action.”
Health is a core government responsibility
Ifeanyi further warned that Nigeria risks not only public health crises but also the erosion of trust in healthcare institutions if the funding gap continues.
“Health is a core government responsibility. International funding should complement, not replace domestic allocations. Ensuring full release of budgeted funds is not just administrative, it is a moral and practical imperative to save lives and strengthen Nigeria’s health system.”
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