Nigeria’s healthcare system is broken. Who fills the gaps?

Nigeria's healthcare system is broken and those gaps are being filled by an informal network of providers. In Lagos, callers often face a long wait to connect to an ambulance, resorting to finding someone with a car to get urgent care. Medwaka, a healthcare startup, recognized this issue early on and built a dispatch and coordination platform to bridge the gap between those in need and the available resources.

The challenge extends beyond ambulance shortages, as primary healthcare centers are chronically underfunded, and fiscal policy often fails to deliver funds to the facilities where they are needed most. This has created an informal healthcare economy, with patent medicine vendors, unlicensed clinics, and community caregivers stepping in to fill the gaps left by the formal system.

Funding for Nigeria's health sector has historically come from external partners, but the lack of government investment and the absence of a sustainable funding model have left the healthcare system vulnerable. As USAID's departure in 2025 demonstrated, the reliance on external funding can leave critical infrastructure and programs without long-term support.

Additionally, sensitive topics like sex education and access to contraceptives are still stigmatized in Nigeria, further hindering the healthcare system's ability to provide comprehensive care. While startups have attempted to address these gaps with innovative solutions, such as digital platforms for sexual health information, they are ultimately limited by the systemic issues that prevent the government from adequately addressing these problems.

The health edition of The Nigerian Life Compendium highlights the areas where the system fails, from budgetary issues to the lack of comprehensive care, ultimately pointing to the need for systemic change to improve Nigeria's healthcare system.