Health experts have called for the full integration of the private sector into Nigeria’s maternal healthcare financing and digital health reforms, warning that the country’s efforts to reduce maternal mortality and achieve universal health coverage will remain elusive without stronger public-private partnerships.

The experts made the call in Abuja during the National Policy Dialogue on Institutionalising Innovations in Nigeria’s Maternal Health Financing and Digital Health Reforms, with a focus on private sector integration.

Organised by the ACIOE Foundation in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the dialogue brought together policymakers, development partners, innovators, civil society organisations, donors and healthcare financing experts to review evidence-based maternal health innovations and develop strategies for their integration into Nigeria’s health financing and digital health systems.

Speaking at the event, Director of the ACIOE Foundation, Olukunle Daramola, said the dialogue was aimed at advancing Nigeria’s quest for universal health coverage while improving maternal healthcare outcomes.

According to United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, between 58,000 and 75,000 women die annually in Nigeria from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications.

Daramola noted that despite improvements in access to maternal healthcare, maternal mortality remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health challenges.

“Maternal mortality remains an urgent public health challenge that demands bold, coordinated and evidence-driven action. Achieving universal access to quality maternal healthcare requires more than increased investments; it requires innovative financing mechanisms, efficient digital health systems, strong governance, and strategic partnerships that leverage the strengths of both the public and private sectors,” he said.

He described the policy dialogue as timely, coming as Nigeria implements key health sector reforms aimed at achieving universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Daramola highlighted the role of digital health technologies in improving healthcare delivery through better data management, patient tracking, telemedicine and evidence-based decision-making.

He also identified health insurance expansion, performance-based financing, blended financing models and strategic purchasing as key financing approaches capable of reducing financial barriers and expanding access to quality maternal healthcare.

According to him, private healthcare providers remain central to Nigeria’s healthcare system, serving as the first point of care for many families while investing in digital innovation, pharmaceutical supply chains, diagnostics, health technologies, logistics, insurance and workforce development.

He called for enabling policies, transparent regulations, sustainable financing mechanisms, interoperable digital systems and stronger collaboration between government and private sector stakeholders to improve healthcare delivery and ensure the sustainability of ongoing reforms.

Lead, MSD for Mothers, Iyadunni Olubode, stressed the need to provide private healthcare providers with equitable access to health financing mechanisms at both national and subnational levels.

She said meaningful reforms must produce actionable outcomes capable of reducing preventable maternal deaths.

“It is unacceptable that women continue to die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth despite ongoing interventions,” she said.

President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Afekhide Omoti, represented by Dr. Epe Phillip, also called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to improve maternal healthcare delivery.

He urged policymakers to institutionalise sustainable financing mechanisms and leverage digital health innovations to reduce maternal mortality and improve access to quality healthcare services nationwide.

Also speaking, Senior Manager at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Adenike Adepetu, reaffirmed the apex bank’s commitment to strengthening healthcare financing through policies and regulatory frameworks that encourage innovation and sustainable investment.

She said the dialogue provides an important platform for stakeholders to identify policy gaps and develop financing models that will support digital healthcare expansion and improve access to quality maternal health services across Nigeria.