A Review-Based Comparative Analysis of Health Care Delivery System in Nigeria and the United Kingdom

It is a general belief that the healthcare delivery system (HCDS) in Nigeria is bedevilled by frequent workers industrial actions, inter-professional rivalry among healthcare workers and insurance scheme mismanagement and corruption.

This study was aimed at comparing the health care system in Nigeria (a lower middle-income country) and the United Kingdom (a high-income country).

Using keywords including 'primary health care', 'secondary health care', 'tertiary health care', 'health care delivery system', 'Nigeria' and ''United Kingdom, PubMed was searched for studies on health care in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Databases of the World Bank, World Health Organization, Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook and Index Mundi were also searched for information on health indices and organisational characteristics for Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Retrieved articles and data obtained were analysed and a two-country comparison was performed on HCDS features and health indices.

The average Life Expectancy in Nigeria is less than two third of that of the UK (54.8 years vs. 81.2 years) and the probability of dying between 15 and 60 years per thousands of population is 127.8% higher among Nigerians than among UK citizens. The Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births and the under-five children mortality rate is 16 and 23 times higher in Nigeria than in the UK. The probability of dying on or before the first year of life and before the age of five is 177% and 183% higher respectively, in Nigeria than in the UK. While the UK ranked within the top 2% -10% on health system rating features such as achievement of goals, health care services distribution and overall goal achievement on HCDS, Nigeria is ranked within the bottom 2%-5% in these measures.

Using the HCDS in the UK as a model, it can be argued that a multi-faceted approach that includes attitudinal and behavioural changes among the healthcare workers, proactive health and social policy implementation and monitoring, preventive and corrective anti-corruption measures, population control and increased healthcare spending may be needed to address challenges and improve Nigeria's healthcare rating and ranking among countries.