ASSESSING PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AS A STRATEGIC TOOL TO ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE IN NIGERIA; CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

Primary health care is a grass root-oriented approach to health care that is structured to provide
essential health care services to all individuals in the community. This concept that came into
existence globally in 1978 from the Alma-Ata conference, was conceptualized to achieve
“Health for All” and universal health coverage. Universal health coverage means all individuals
have access to essential and quality health care services needed at the right time without financial
hardship. The paper reviewed PHC as a strategic concept structured towards achieving Universal
Health Coverage in Nigeria with focus on challenges and prospects. The study adopted a
qualitative study design with a review method that focused on PubMed and google scholar
databases. Search was conducted using key words like PHC in Nigeria, current status of PHC,
PHC implementation, universal health coverage, and challenges to universal health coverage.
The review results revealed that, Nigeria has a robust primary health care implementation
framework with result-oriented interventional programmes that are supported by policy to
achieve universal health coverage. However effective implementation of primary health care has
been challenged by various problems, some of which included inadequate funding,
unsatisfactory political will, deficit in human resources for health, poor state of health
infrastructure etc. Primary health care was initiated to make essential health care services
available, accessible, acceptable and affordable by all individuals in the community. For primary
health care implementation to achieve the universal health coverage in Nigeria, efforts must be
made to comprehensively address these highlighted challenges.