Healthcare access and equity in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines government health finance, which requires patients to pay out-of-pocket even in the presence of a universal healthcare program, and how it affects Nigerians' life expectancy. Numerous investigations have indicated that socioeconomic factors impact healthcare results as well as the dispersion of medical facilities and resources throughout Nigeria. Government spending and gender life expectancy were used as indices to look at healthcare access and equity among socioeconomic determinants in Nigeria. In order to determine the impact of government health expenditure on life expectancy in relation to healthcare and equity in Nigeria, time series data was sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical bulletin and World Population Prospects. A combination of descriptive statistics, Unit Root (ADF) test, Vector Regression (VAR), Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL), Bounds test and residual diagnostics and stability test were used in the analyses. The study demonstrated a long-term, statistically significant association between the independent factors, such as male and female life expectancy, and the dependent variable, government health expenditure. Recurrent and capital health expenditures in Nigeria have been greatly impacted by the insufficient financial allocation to healthcare. It is important to remember that any health system's capital expenditures will continue to be greatly impacted by the inadequate funding. It is important to reform the healthcare finance system, ensure smart resource allocation, and shift the focus away from out-of-pocket healthcare expenses in order to improve the lives of both sexes and extend the existing life expectancy.