Submission ID 130270
| Issue/Objective | In many low- and middle-income countries, expanding access to healthcare has been a central policy priority. However, access alone does not guarantee quality. In Nigeria, this gap is particularly evident in specialised services, such as paediatric cardiology and mental health, where patients may reach healthcare facilities but still lack access to timely, safe, and effective interventions. This disconnect contributes to preventable morbidity, mortality, and widening health inequities. This study examines the disparity between healthcare access and quality in Nigeria's specialised care landscape and explores pathways toward equitable, high-quality service delivery. |
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| Methodology/Approach | Using a qualitative, practice-informed approach, this study draws on field experience from paediatric cardiac intervention missions and mental health rehabilitation settings in Nigeria. Observations are complemented by a narrative review of global health literature on health systems strengthening, workforce capacity, and equitable care delivery in low-resource settings. |
| Results | Findings highlight a persistent mismatch between patient access and quality outcomes. Key barriers include limited specialised workforce capacity, inadequate infrastructure, delayed diagnosis, and reliance on external medical missions. In mental health settings, treatment gaps are compounded by stigma, inconsistent medication response, and limited continuity of care. However, targeted interventions - such as structured surgical missions combined with local workforce training and integrated care models in mental health - demonstrate the potential to improve both access and quality simultaneously. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Bridging the access-quality gap requires a shift from episodic care delivery to system-level strengthening. Policies must prioritise sustainable capacity building, investment in specialised training, and integration of services within national health systems. Achieving global health equity in Nigeria will depend not only on increasing access but also on ensuring that care delivered is consistently safe, effective, and equitable |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Abdulgafar Abdulrasheed INTERSECT CONSORTIUM Abdulgafar Abdulrasheed INTERSECT CONSORTIUM |
