Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study presents a comparative analysis of healthcare delivery and management systems in Nigeria and India, two populous developing countries that experience similar structural challenges but diverge significantly in health outcomes and medical tourism dynamics. Guided by the WHO’s Health Systems Framework, the research evaluates each country’s health governance, financing, service accessibility, and human resources for health. A multiple-case study design was adopted, relying on secondary data from national health accounts, WHO reports, and peer-reviewed literature spanning 2015 to 2023. The findings show that while both countries operate decentralised systems, India’s health system demonstrates broader state-level autonomy, stronger public health insurance mechanisms, and formal recognition of traditional medicine. These features, alongside consistent government investment and targeted reforms, contribute to better performance indicators such as lower infant and maternal mortality and higher life expectancy. In contrast, Nigeria’s system, though structurally simpler, suffers from poor coordination across levels of government, inadequate health financing, underperforming primary healthcare facilities, and limited health insurance coverage. The resulting high out-of-pocket expenditure and limited rural access contribute to poorer health outcomes and the persistence of outbound medical tourism. The study concludes that Nigeria can draw valuable lessons from India’s health reforms, particularly in decentralised health financing, primary healthcare centre revitalisation, rural infrastructure development, and the integration of culturally relevant healthcare practices. Recommendations include increasing public health expenditure, improving accountability in budget execution, recognising and regulating traditional medicine, and enhancing incentives to attract health workers to underserved areas. These policy directions offer practical steps toward strengthening Nigeria’s health system and improving health equity.
Authors: Olaide Soji-Oluwatosin, Ashiru Ibrahim
Institutions: University of Bradford, Nigerian Defence Academy
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7220171599