Policy Innovation Centre Partners Future Health Conference 2023 to Drive capacity in the Nigerian Heath Sector

On October 16, 2023

Caption L-R:    NESG Health Policy Commission Member, Dr. Jesupelumi Adenihun; Anchor, NESG Health Policy Commission, Dr Oluwaseyi Vincent; Gender and Inclusion Advisor, Adekemi Omole; Executive Director, Policy Innovation Centre, Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu; Sim Naturals Clinic, Dr Dumebi Aisien and Grants & Partnerships, Policy Innovation Centre, Jane Ohioghame at the Future Health Conference in Lagos last week.

In its drive to support the advancement of the Nigerian health system, Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) has partnered with the Nigeria Health Watch, organizers of the 2023 Future of Health Conference. The Health Conference which was held at Lagos Continental Hotel recently, was themed “The Private Sector as a Catalyst for a Resilient Health System”. The conference highlighted the importance of leveraging the private sector's capacity to deliver quality care and promote quality improvements in the public sector. The conference also provided a platform for positive action and amplified the innovations that could lead to transformative change in the health sector through partnership and collaboration. The private sector has played an important role in the growth of the Nigerian economy with noteworthy examples from the financial services and entertainment sectors. 

According to the Executive Director, Policy Innovation Centre, Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, “This conversation is more important now than ever; because as we grapple with the challenges relating to increasing maternal mortality, brain drain of health workers and critical infrastructural needs for the health system, there is no better time to bring the private sector on board than now. For us at the Policy Innovation Centre, this is an important conversation to be a part of as we work to advance evidenced-driven and contextually relevant solutions to critical development priorities, we know that prioritizing the health sector and ensuring that it works optimally for every citizen in the country is a top priority.”   

The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) is the first national institutionalized behavioural initiative in Africa supporting governments and stakeholders to make behaviourally informed decisions and generate contextually relevant evidence for high-impact interventions in critical thematic areas. The PIC is an initiative of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG). The PIC set-up was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).