NIGERIAN STATES SCORE BELOW 30% IN HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

A nationwide health crisis may be looming as all 36 Nigerian states scored below 30 per cent in the 2025 SBM Health Preparedness Index (HPI), according to a new report by SBM Intelligence.

The report revealed that no state met the 30 per cent threshold for effective emergency response or healthcare delivery, raising serious concerns about Nigeria’s readiness for future health challenges.

The assessment, released on Thursday, evaluated states using indicators such as doctor-to-population ratio, health budget allocation, human development index, and infant mortality rate. Abia State emerged top with a score of 26.85, the highest in the country, while others performed even worse, reflecting decades of poor funding, weak institutions, and policy neglect in the health sector.

Researchers from SBM Intelligence noted that the findings come five years after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s healthcare system. They warned that poor fiscal priorities, brain drain, and systemic inefficiencies continue to cripple health service delivery.

One major concern highlighted in the report is the mass migration of Nigerian-trained medical professionals. It estimates that over 67 per cent of doctors trained in Nigeria now practise abroad, driven by low pay, insecurity, and poor working conditions.

This exodus has worsened the doctor-to-patient ratio nationwide, now averaging one doctor per 15,361 patients, far below the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard. Bauchi State was identified as the worst affected, with just one doctor serving about 54,249 people. In contrast, Lagos, Edo, and Enugu recorded relatively better ratios of fewer than 3,200 patients per doctor.

The report emphasised that the uneven distribution of medical personnel highlights the urgent need for policies to retain and redistribute Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.

An analysis of state health budgets also revealed sharp disparities in government commitment. Lagos recorded the highest nominal allocation of over ₦221 billion, while Kaduna spent the largest percentage of its total budget on health (16.1%), followed by Kano (15.2%) and Bauchi (15.1%). On the other hand, Akwa Ibom (4.3%), Bayelsa (4.1%), and Imo (3.5%) were listed among the least committed states in terms of health funding.

Per capita health spending placed Abia (₦22,926) and Ogun (₦21,051) at the top, while Imo (₦3,950) and Adamawa (₦4,271) ranked at the bottom. Analysts cautioned that such uneven fiscal patterns could deepen health inequalities, especially in states already burdened by high disease rates and environmental disasters.

Abia State topped the 2025 Health Preparedness Index for the first time, driven by its strong per capita spending and relatively high Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.674. Ogun and Lagos followed in second and third place, while Osun and Edo completed the top five.

Meanwhile, Kebbi (13.31) and Katsina (12.54) ranked lowest on the index, alongside Sokoto, Gombe, and Zamfara. The report also noted that Ebonyi, a southern state, joined the bottom five due to declining health investment and a worsening doctor-to-patient ratio of one doctor per 21,202 residents.

SBM Intelligence concluded by urging urgent policy reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s public health system, warning that without bold investments and institutional accountability, the country remains highly vulnerable to future health emergencies.