Findings of the Political Economy Analysis (PEA) on improving maternal health in Lagos State have revealed the need for improved health sector funding in the state.
The findings identified that while free maternal healthcare policy has been touted as a source for achieving sustainable health, it is also a major driver for inconsistency in the health sector.
The findings showed that despite the existence of the free healthcare policy of free health care, its inconsistency drives and increases maternal mortality.
While speaking at the dissemination workshop, the Research consultant, Mrs Dede Kadiri, said the policy on free maternal healthcare is no longer sustainable, what is sustainable is driving sources from different funding directions to sustain the health sector because right now, analysis shows that Lagos may not be able to maintain free maternal healthcare, unless the budget is astronomically increased.
“Lagos state might not be able to deliver free maternal health care anymore so, the future is really health insurance.”
Kadiri called for the standardization of “the policy on free maternal healthcare otherwise, organisations like LASHMA who are with good intentions will suffer.”
She added, “no matter how much Lagos puts on health, it’s not enough so there is a need for external funding which can come from local governments, international development partners, individuals and at the NGOs level.”
Barrister Ayo Adebusoye, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative (PHSAI) said it is important that “the Local government leadership invest in the health sector because there is huge gap there. Lagos state population is very huge and so it’s a huge investment that is needed to improve the health sector.”
While appreciating Pathfinder for leading the assessment, the health financing programme manager for Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Adebimpe Sangoleye, mentioned the need for high-level advocacy.
“If we want a sustainable health care system that is effective and efficient, it can’t be free. And we can’t over-emphasise the fact that the way forward is health insurance,” Sangoleye stated.
Dr. Funmi Ige from Ifako-Ijaye General Hospital also stated that health care is very expensive, adding that the government means well but it can’t do it all alone because the workload is overwhelming.
“When we talk of free health alot of people want to benefit from it but the truth of the matter is, nothing is actually free, when it comes to the matter of free health, we need to be very realistic because someone actually paid for that product before it was declared free. So, a lot of funds have to be pumped into health to sustain the service,” Ige said.
The PEA, led by Pathfinder International, a non-governmental organization, focuses on power dynamics, stakeholder interests and policy influences on maternal health. It was also conducted in partnership with the Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative (PHSAI) and the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI).
The dissemination workshop brought together a multi-sectoral group of stakeholders in the sector including Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB), Lagos State Health Management (LASHMA), Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH), Religious leaders, Community leaders, World Health Committees (WHC).