By Blessing Odega
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Plateau State Chapter, has organised its maiden Business Coalition for Health Summit to address critical gaps in the state’s healthcare sector.
Dr Yilji Kumtap, Chairman of NMA Plateau, said the summit, held on Thursday in Plateau, was aimed at addressing key challenges in the health sector.
The event, themed “Unlocking the Value Chain in Healthcare Financing Through Sustainable Business Partnerships”, was designed to foster meaningful dialogue and drive strategic partnerships to improve healthcare delivery.
He emphasised that the initiative sought to explore innovative solutions and attract sustainable investment to bridge gaps in the state’s healthcare system.
Kumtap emphasised that the health sector was in urgent need of innovation, and that incorporating business strategies either through philanthropy or for-profit investment could help transform healthcare delivery.
“The summit serves as a platform for generating innovative ways to address the persistent challenges in the healthcare system,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr Sim Shagaya, Chancellor of Miva Open University, highlighted the pressing infrastructural challenges in the sector.
Represented by the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tayo Arulogun, Shagaya advocated for increased private sector involvement through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
He proposed that private businesses should move away from merely building hospitals and instead focused on developing healthcare facilities that could support both physical and virtual care delivery.
According to him, this model can cut operational costs while expanding access to outpatient care through digital platforms.
“Tech companies can partner with healthcare providers to develop local solutions tailored to our specific challenges.
“This isn’t about importing foreign models, it’s about creating systems that work for us,” he said.
Shagaya also stressed the need to move beyond traditional healthcare funding models.
He suggested that businesses should invest in healthcare infrastructure where returns would be linked to improved health outcomes or through micro-insurance schemes aimed at making healthcare more affordable and sustainable.
He commended the NMA Plateau leadership for their initiative, noting that such efforts were critical for building a stronger healthcare system in Plateau and across Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that awards were presented during the one-day summit to individuals recognised for their exceptional contributions to healthcare development in the state.
Among the recipients were Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, and Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. NAN
