Infrastructural distribution of healthcare services in Nigeria: An overview

Abstract

Discussions of health-care infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa in general and in Nigeria in particular have recognized the existence of different types and practices. This paper examines the biomedical or western orthodox healthcare with its expansive bureaucratic ethos within the context of hospital structures in Nigeria. The study observed that from the colonial period, the distribution of medical care delivery in Nigeria has favoured the urban population at the expense of the rural settlers and that the health services in the country has tended to be placed specifically on three pedestals of primary, secondary and tertiary health institutions for rural, mixed population and urban elite respectively. Also, in terms of infrastructural distribution of healthcare, the rural areas (that is, the rural majority) in Nigeria are being neglected to satisfy the urban areas, where the educated, the rich and government functionaries reside. The paper therefore suggests the need to redistribute the provision of this infrastructure to benefit all, irrespective of where they live. Key words: Healthcare delivery, health infrastructure, public health, equity.