Does Public Sector Health Spending Lead to a Healthier Population in Nigeria?

Over the years, while being confronted with increasing demand for more and better health care, the Nigerian government began to implement reform measures so as to complement spending as well as cope with the ever-increasing requirement for health spending. But, whether or not these increased spending translates into a healthier population has remained an unresolved issue in Nigeria. Using secondary data, this study examines the public health care spending in Nigeria and whether or not these lead to a healthier population. The study finds that despite the increase in most components of health care spending in Nigeria, the health status of the average Nigerian and the condition of health infrastructure has not improved appreciably. Access to good health care has remained basically an elite privilege because health services are yet to be provided in sufficient quality and scope, to meet the needs of the people.