May 2025 Healthcare Roundups You Shouldn’t Miss
Welcome to the official MAY roundup from our Hospital Improvement Newsletter; your monthly trusted source for the most critical healthcare updates, innovations, and trends impacting hospitals and healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
This month, we’ve handpicked 25 essential stories that highlight pressing challenges, major reforms, equipment and device updates, and innovations reshaping Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.
These were selected to help you stay informed and prepared as a healthcare leader.
🩺 Full List of Curated Healthcare Stories
- Nigeria Registers First Cardiovascular Triple Therapy Pill
Pharmacist Olalekan Kehinde led the registration of Nigeria’s first single-pill triple therapy for cardiovascular diseases under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). This national healthcare milestone simplifies treatment, improves patient adherence, and reduces polypharmacy risks.
- WHX Lagos 2025 to Unite Africa’s Health and Lab Leaders in June
WHX Lagos and WHX Labs Lagos 2025 will be held June 2–4 at the Landmark Centre. The event will bring together top policymakers, clinicians, and innovators and spotlight digital health, diagnostics, public health, and investment.
- Nigeria to Launch Electronic Portal for Health Research Proposals
The Nigerian Government will launch a digital portal to streamline health research proposal submissions and ethical reviews nationwide. Expected by Q3 2025, the portal will improve transparency, efficiency, and compliance with international standards.
- Nigeria Advances HIV Fight Despite Funding Pause
NASCP reported Q1 progress in HIV control, including new data estimates, a triple elimination roadmap for HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B, and national HIV product quantification through 2029. Despite a US funding pause, ART supplies remain stable, and system improvements continue nationwide.
- Nigeria Launches Gavi HSS-3 to Boost Immunisation and PHC Services
The Federal Government has launched the third phase of the Gavi Health System Strengthening (HSS-3) programme to improve immunisation and primary healthcare. Backed by a $191M Gavi grant, the initiative aims to reach 1.8M zero-dose children by 2028.
- Experts Call for Hand Hygiene as National Culture to Curb Infections
At the 2025 World Hand Hygiene Day event in Abuja, experts urged Nigeria to embed hand hygiene into everyday healthcare and public life. Highlighting its role in preventing infections and saving lives, they called for sustainable practices beyond symbolic campaigns.
- Experts Urge Public Awareness on Blood Safety and Lab Technology
At the OncoSeek Cancer Training in Abuja, experts stressed the role of accurate blood collection, early cancer detection, and lab tech like the Cobas E411 in saving lives. They called for better public education and responsible health reporting to boost early diagnosis.
- PharmAccess to Deploy Health Connect Diaspora Remittance App
Diaspora remittances are a key funding source to advance Universal Health Coverage in Africa. PharmAccess introduced the HealthConnect app to enable Nigerians abroad to fund loved ones’ healthcare via a mobile ‘health wallet’. The app links to Lagos State’s health scheme, supporting direct premium payments.
- Nigeria Moves to Boost Local Pharma Production with Tax Breaks
The PVAC initiative, led by Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, aims to reduce Nigeria’s 70% medicine import rate by promoting local production. President Tinubu’s executive order removes VAT and import duties on key inputs.
- Why Mental Health Remains Nigeria’s Silent Crisis
Nigeria faces a mental health crisis, with a vast treatment gap and fewer than 150 psychiatrists for over 200 million people. Expert, Dr. Tochukwu Orjiakor, blames stigma, lack of awareness, poor infrastructure, and brain drain, and urges grassroots advocacy and more public education over building new facilities.
- HealthPlus Launches Heart Monitoring Service
HealthPlus Limited has introduced the “Healthy Heart Check” service to help Nigerians assess and reduce their risk of heart disease. The service includes private consultations, diagnostic tests, and lifestyle advice, and is available at 20 HealthPlus branches at ₦4,500.
- Nigeria Set to End Reliance on Imported Medicines
At the 2025 Nigeria Pharmaceutical Industry Summit, leaders committed to boosting local drug production and reducing the country’s 70% import dependence. Strategies include policy reforms, pharmaceutical parks, and improved financing to build a self-sufficient sector.
- Nigeria Needs 235,000 Doctors, Expert Says
Nigeria needs over 235,000 doctors to meet the WHO-recommended doctor-patient ratio of 1:600, as the country currently operates at an alarming 1:4,000. Ernest Nwokolo highlighted this during the launch of the Community Health Empowerment Foundation (CHEF), a mobile outreach programme to improve Nigeria’s health indices.
- Gates Foundation Awards $5M Grant to Boost Maternal and Child Health in Africa
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded a $5 million grant to healthcare technology company Axmed to support affordable access to maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) medicines across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Nigeria’s Health Sector Gains International Recognition Amid UHC Progress
Nigeria makes notable progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC), earning international acclaim. Time magazine named three Nigerian health leaders among its 100 most influential in health: Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, Dr Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, and Dr Abasi Ene-Obong.
- Lagos Hospital Pays N20m Monthly for Just Three Hours of Daily Power
Dr. Adedamola Dada, outgoing Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, revealed the hospital spends N20 million monthly on electricity despite receiving only 2–3 hours of public power daily. The hospital uses 80,000 litres of diesel monthly, generating 95% of its own power over the past seven years.
- FG to improve access to ENT healthcare services
The Nigerian Government commits to enhancing ear, nose, and throat (ENT) healthcare services to address hearing loss, brain drain, and infrastructure gaps. Vice President Shettima highlighted the shortage of ENT specialists and emphasized the governments commitment.
- NHIA and NBS partner to strengthen Nigeria’s health insurance system
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have launched a strategic partnership to improve Nigeria’s health insurance system via enhanced data sharing, joint research, and capacity building.
- NGO Partners Launch Youth Mental Health 24-Hour Helpline in Abuja
The Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (VGADA), in collaboration with the I Choose Life Foundation and supported by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, launched toll-free 24/7 helplines to address youth mental health and substance abuse challenges across Nigeria.
- Nigeria to Strengthen Health Security Through New Accountability Framework
Stakeholders organized by HERFON in partnership with Gem Hub Initiative and the Vaccine Network for Disease Control validated a new Health Security Accountability Framework designed to promote responsible health financing and equitable access to vaccines.
- How AI Can Transform Nigeria’s Healthcare System
AI business analyst Goodness Nze-Igwe highlights how artificial intelligence can help resolve Nigeria’s healthcare challenges. She calls for strategic AI adoption in Nigeria despite current barriers, drawing from global examples like India and Rwanda.
- How Tangible is Tinubu’s Free Emergency Care Initiative for Nigerians?
President Bola Tinubu’s administration launched the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), providing 48 hours of free emergency care to Nigerians upon hospital admission.
- Poor Hospital Regulation Fuelling Quackery — NHFRA Committee Chair
Dr. Richardson Ajayi, of the proposed National Health Facility Regulation Agency (NHFRA), has raised alarms about the lack of regulatory oversight on Nigerian healthcare facilities. He stated that the absence of a national standard has led to the rise of substandard hospitals and quack operators.
- FEC Approves Medipool to Cut Drug Costs, ₦2.3bn Cardiac Machine for Hospital
The Federal Executive Council has approved the creation of Medipool, a group purchasing organization aimed at reducing drug costs and improving access to essential medicines across Nigeria to support local manufacturing.
- NAFDAC Celebrates Nigeria’s First WHO Pre-Qualification of Syringes by AFRI Medical
AFRI Medical Manufacturing and Supplies Limited has become the first Nigerian and West and Central African company to receive WHO pre-qualification for 0.5ml auto-disabled syringes. NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, praised the achievement as a milestone for Nigeria’s local manufacturing sector.
Why This Matters to You
Every article in this roundup reflects a shift in policy, infrastructure, innovation, or opportunity. They affect how hospitals in Nigeria can deliver quality, accessible, and efficient care. The Hospital Improvement Newsletter exists to keep you informed and equipped to make better decisions for your facility, patients, and team.
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