University of Ibadan (UI) Professor Calls for Robust Regulation to Enhance Healthcare Access

A Professor of Health Economics at the University of Ibadan, Professor Akanni Olayinka Lawanson, has called for alternative mechanisms in social health insurance to ensure broader population coverage and improve healthcare access. Delivering the 569th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Ibadan, titled “Turn On The Mic: The Tradeoff Between Information and Corruption,” Professor Lawanson emphasized the need for stringent regulatory measures to mitigate moral hazard and adverse selection in the health sector.

Speaking on behalf of the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, Professor Lawanson identified corruption as a critical impediment to effective healthcare delivery. He highlighted its detrimental impact on resource allocation, financial burden distribution, and population health outcomes.

To address these challenges, he recommended anti-corruption strategies centered on transparency, accountability, and enforcement mechanisms. "The detection of offences and strict punishment of offenders, alongside measures to prevent corruption, is imperative," he noted.

Professor Lawanson stressed the pivotal role of information technology in combating corruption, advocating for its deployment to detect irregularities and support legal action against offenders. He also emphasized the need for public enlightenment on patient rights to reduce information gaps between healthcare providers and patients.

The lecture underscored the potential of a well-functioning social insurance scheme in transforming health financing in Nigeria. Professor Lawanson called for improved implementation to enhance the scheme’s impact.

This lecture marked the 19th in the University of Ibadan's 2023/2024 inaugural lecture series.