Mental health professionals and stakeholders have raised concerns over the worsening state of access to mental health care in Nigeria, citing rising costs, poor integration into primary health care and the absence of a dedicated budget line for mental health in the country.
Speaking during a panel discussion on Financing Mental Health Services, at the ongoing National Health Financing Dialogue, experts noted that while government policy documents recognise mental health as a priority, implementation remains weak, leaving millions of Nigerians without affordable or accessible care.
Taiwo Obindo, President of the Association of Psychiatrists of Nigerian (APN), highlighted the geographical disparity in access, pointing out that most mental health facilities are concentrated in urban centres.
“Over 65% of our population live in rural areas. For people with mental health conditions, accessing care often means travelling long distances to city centres, incurring additional costs and risks,” Obindo explained.
The cost of treatment has also surged dramatically since 2023. According to Lateef Sheikh, Consultant Psychiatrist, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
“Consultation fees that used to average about ₦300 before 2023 now stand at around ₦2,000, excluding the skyrocketing cost of essential medications.
“Drug prices have tripled or quadrupled, making treatment unaffordable for many families,” he added.
Funke Jayesimi, Pharmacist, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, noted that beyond the direct financial burden, patients and their families face hidden costs.
“Depending on the severity of the condition, one or two relatives may have to accompany patients, meaning lost income and reduced productivity.
“In extreme cases, patients are restrained during travel, leading to injuries and even amputations. These situations show how mental health challenges also drain the economy,” she said.
Despite these challenges, panellists acknowledged that Nigeria had made policy strides, such as including mental health under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act and provisions within the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund 2.0.
However, they stressed that translating policy into practical action remains the real hurdle.
“There is currently no dedicated budget for mental health. Funds released to psychiatric hospitals are used mainly for overheads and administration, not patient care,” a Taiwo Faowo, Chief Operating Officer, Intersect Consortium lamented, calling for the creation of a Department of Mental Health within the Federal Ministry of Health to oversee funding and policy implementation.
The panelists also underscored the potential of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in expanding mental health services.
Tayo noted examples where private organisations manage psychiatric wings within public hospitals under cost-sharing arrangements.
“PPP models can reduce the financial burden on government while lowering costs for patients,” she argued, adding that such collaborations could also boost awareness and reduce stigma.
Jayesimi also raised the over Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported psychotropic medicines.
“None of the drugs used for managing mental health conditions are currently manufactured locally.
“They are excluded from NAFDAC’s essential medicines localisation list. Without local production, costs will continue to rise, and supply will remain unstable,” he warned.
Analysts also called for technology transfer, stronger legal frameworks for contract manufacturing, and incentives to encourage private investment in local production of psychotropic drugs.
Some contributors urged Nigeria to broaden its focus to include brain health, encompassing conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, brain injuries, and neurological disorders, which remain largely neglected.
In their closing remarks, experts emphasised the need to mainstream mental health into all levels of healthcare delivery.
They advocated both vertical integration which include bringing services into primary, secondary, and tertiary care)l and horizontal integration which ensures that mental health services are part of every health service package, regardless of the facility.
“Stigma and neglect must end. Mental health is as important as physical health. Every Nigerian should be able to walk into any hospital and access affordable mental health care. There is health without mental health,” Obindo noted.
