FG adopts new system to curb waste in healthcare spending

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has introduced a new system, Health Technology Assessment (HTA), to improve healthcare spending and ensure limited resources are directed towards interventions with greater value for Nigerians. Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of the NHIA, revealed this during the inauguration of the HTA Steering Committee and the formal launch of HTA in Nigeria.

The HTA system will strengthen evidence-based decisions regarding healthcare coverage, reimbursement, pricing, and resource allocation, guiding Nigeria's progress towards Universal Health Coverage. HTA provides a systematic and multidisciplinary approach to evaluating the clinical, economic, and broader value of health technologies, supporting decisions on benefit package design, coverage, reimbursement, adoption, pricing, and resource allocation.

The NHIA has been strengthening its HTA capacity since 2025, developing a framework, process guidelines, and a committee structure. The Authority has also invested in local capacity by training postgraduate and master's students in HTA at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. Pilot HTA assessments have been conducted on kidney replacement therapy, colorectal cancer screening, and sorafenib for advanced liver cancer.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, officially launched the HTA system. This institutionalization process is seen as crucial for ensuring that HTA evidence becomes a routine input in health policy, benefit packages, strategic purchasing, and reimbursement decisions, ultimately improving healthcare resource decisions.