Imperatives of Access to Health Care in Nigeria under the National Health Act, 2014

Abstract

The National Health Bill was presented to National Assembly in 2004, with a view to improve on the existing provisions of the law
on health care and access to health care in Nigeria. The enactment of the National Health Act, 2014 is a welcome development as it provides solace for the decades of clamouring for a regime that will effectively address the gap in the transformation of the provisions of the international treaties into reality in Nigeria; and ensure the implementation of governmental policies on access to health care, which is more desired. The paper considers the provisions of the Act and its provisions on the establishment of a national health system, health establishments, rights and duties of users and health care personnel. The Act also provides adequately for the regulation of national health research and information system, the control of use of blood, blood products, tissues and gametes in humans amongst others. The paper identifies the importance of the Act, and however, concludes in its critique that though the enactment of this law is a positive development, it is not yet ‘uhuru’, as the implementation and a few gaps identified in this paper remains a challenge. The authors recommend alongside necessary amendments of the Act, that government should ensure adequate funding of the health sector in order to enable the average citizen, less privileged and uninsured persons to have all-time access to health care in Nigeria.