Funding Constraints Threaten Specialised Hospitals, Reps Warn

The House of Representatives Committee on Specialty Healthcare, has expressed concern over persistent funding constraints affecting specialised hospitals and health institutions across Nigeria.

Speaking at the 2026 budget defence session held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Alex Egbona, said many of the country’s specialised health institutions continue to operate under severe financial limitations that hinder service delivery and patient outcomes.

Mr Egbona said the Committee on Specialty Healthcare is constitutionally mandated to provide oversight for specialised health institutions, including orthopaedic and psychiatric hospitals, obstetric fistula centres, eye and ear hospitals, oral and dental institutions, complementary and alternative medicine centres, blood transfusion services and laboratory science technology facilities.

“These institutions occupy a critical position in Nigeria’s healthcare system,” he said.

“Without their effective functioning, the healthcare system cannot deliver optimal outcomes.”

He noted that annual budgetary provisions for many of the institutions are often inadequate to address infrastructure deficits, manpower shortages, equipment gaps and increasing service demands.

According to him, the purpose of the budget defence is for agencies to justify their 2026 proposals and account for the implementation of the 2025 Appropriations Act, including how released funds were used and how funding shortfalls affected performance.

The committee, he added, would continue to advocate for fair and realistic allocations to specialised healthcare institutions while ensuring transparency and accountability in the budgeting process.

Egbona urged heads of institutions to make factual and evidence-based presentations to enable the committee to carry out its oversight responsibilities effectively.

The session followed the presentation of the 2026 Appropriations Bill by President Bola Tinubu to a joint sitting of the National Assembly in December 2025. After passing second reading in the House, the bill was referred to relevant committees for detailed legislative scrutiny.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji