Improving Access to Healthcare in Nigeria

Having a hospital nearby or health insurance does not always guarantee easy access to care. Busy professionals might struggle to find time for appointments. Households juggling expenses may worry about the immediate costs of routine checks. Long wait times, unclear information, and difficulties with insurance can widen the gap between what healthcare is available and what people actually need.

In an interview, Wahen Egbe, Chief Business Officer of OneHealth by AXA, talks about how healthcare providers, employers, and insurers can help close this gap. He discusses making preventive care easier, transforming employee health benefits into real support, and creating partnerships that meet the needs of different communities. Egbe also shares the plans behind OneHealth’s expanding specialist services and why their goal is to make quality healthcare easier to access while building lasting relationships with patients.

Patients want healthcare that is easy to get, affordable, respectful, and fits their lifestyles. They want shorter wait times, better transparency, and providers who listen and communicate well. Employers are also keen on keeping their workers healthy and productive. They seek healthcare partners that not only treat illnesses but also support prevention, wellness, and early intervention. Both groups want healthcare that is proactive, trustworthy, and straightforward.

Having a hospital close by does not remove all barriers. People face issues like high costs, limited insurance, inconvenient hours, long wait times, transport problems, or simply not knowing when and where to go for care. Trust is also crucial. People are more likely to seek care when they believe they will get quality attention, clear information, and a good experience.

Healthcare providers need to understand that time is one of the most valuable assets for people today. Patients should not have to adjust to healthcare systems; instead, healthcare systems should adapt to patients. This means improving appointment scheduling, cutting down wait times, providing digital options, and ensuring patients can access different services in one place. Quality care and convenience should go hand in hand. When healthcare is easier to access, people are more likely to seek help early instead of waiting until conditions worsen.

Providers must recognize that many families are making tough financial choices. Preventive care cannot be presented as a future benefit; it must be practical and affordable now. This includes offering targeted screenings, health checks, wellness packages, and payment options that help people access care without causing financial strain. Educating patients about the value of early detection is equally important. Preventing a serious condition is often much cheaper than treating one, both in terms of money and personal well-being.

Health insurance is important, but it is just one part of the solution. Employees need to know what is available, have convenient access, and trust the healthcare system. Many employees do not fully utilize healthcare benefits because they do not understand what is available or because access is difficult. Workplace culture, health education, provider accessibility, and employee trust all shape whether healthcare coverage leads to actual health improvements.

A good workplace health programme should mix prevention, education, screenings, wellness support, mental health resources, and access to quality care when needed. Employers can track the impact through data like participation rates, workforce health trends, absenteeism, presenteeism, and employee satisfaction. Individual medical information should always remain private. The aim is to understand overall outcomes while maintaining the trust and privacy that employees deserve.

Our decisions on expansion are based on patient needs, clinical trends, and gaps in healthcare services. We see growing demand for services that support an ageing population and a rising need for accessible eye care. To distinguish between long-term needs and short-term interests, we analyze patient volumes, referral patterns, demographic trends, clinical outcomes, and feedback over time. Sustainable service expansion needs proof that the demand will continue to affect the communities we serve.

Successful partnerships start with understanding the community being served. Every workforce, community, or membership group has different healthcare needs and challenges. We usually begin by assessing those needs, identifying barriers, and setting measurable goals.

From there, we create tailored solutions, including health screenings, education, specialist access, wellness initiatives, preventive programmes, and coordinated referral pathways. The goal is not just to offer services but to ensure they meet the partner’s needs.

OneHealth by AXA helps people who value quality, accessible healthcare, whether they pay out of pocket or use insurance. While our Victoria Island location is in a major commercial area, our mission is broader. We focus on providing quality healthcare that is accessible and affordable. Partnering with corporates, HMOs, and employers helps us reach more people through our medical centres.

Patients should know that access to quality care is not limited to a specific group. We aim to expand options, improve convenience, and ensure more people can benefit from good healthcare services.

For us, success is not just about how many facilities we have or how many patients we see. We measure success by whether more people can access quality healthcare when they need it, whether patients have good experiences, and whether communities see us as a trusted long-term healthcare partner.

We want to see earlier intervention, stronger preventive care, better health outcomes, and deeper engagement with the communities we serve. If patients choose OneHealth by AXA not just when they are sick, but throughout their health journey, then we will know we are making a real difference.