By David Akinmola
Poor access to affordable healthcare is undermining workforce productivity and placing additional financial pressure on Nigerian households, with AXA Mansard Health warning that improving healthcare access must be treated as an economic priority rather than only a social concern.
The Chief Executive Officer of AXA Mansard Health, Tope Adeniyi, who spoke at the launch of the company’s Culture of Care campaign, said the relationship between healthcare and economic development was becoming increasingly important as individuals and families grapple with the financial and productivity consequences of untreated illnesses.
According to him, people who can access healthcare early and affordably are better positioned to remain productive, support their families and contribute meaningfully to their workplaces and communities.
“Care is often viewed through a social lens, but it also has significant economic implications,” Adeniyi said. “When people have access to healthcare, they are more likely to remain healthy, productive, and able to contribute meaningfully to their families, workplaces, and communities.”
He said healthcare challenges could extend beyond individual wellbeing, as illness and the inability to afford treatment could disrupt livelihoods, reduce productivity and increase financial pressure on households.
Adeniyi noted that the burden could also affect employers and communities, particularly when workers are unable to remain productive because of health challenges or when families are forced to divert income towards unexpected medical expenses.
“Improving access to healthcare is one of the most effective ways to improve quality of life and support economic development. A healthy population is a productive population,” he said.
He added that early and affordable access to healthcare would enable Nigerians to work, care for dependants, pursue economic opportunities and participate more effectively in national development.
The AXA Mansard Health CEO also linked healthcare access to the growing responsibility placed on caregivers, noting that parents, healthcare workers, professionals caring for ageing relatives and employers supporting workers all form part of what he described as a wider “culture of care.”
He said caregivers themselves required support systems, particularly access to healthcare that was affordable and available when needed.
“Care cannot thrive without support systems. One of the most practical ways society can support caregivers is by ensuring that quality healthcare is accessible, affordable, and available when it is needed,” he said.
As Nigeria continues efforts to expand healthcare coverage and advance Universal Health Coverage, Adeniyi said the private sector had a role to play in closing access gaps through technology, innovation and more inclusive healthcare solutions.
He identified health insurance, digital healthcare services and preventive health initiatives as areas where private-sector intervention could help reduce barriers to healthcare access.
However, he stressed that the Culture of Care campaign was intended to extend beyond the activities of one company, describing care as an important component of how societies should approach economic and human development.
“When societies invest in the health and wellbeing of their people, they create the conditions for stronger businesses, more resilient communities, and sustainable prosperity,” he said.
The development comes as healthcare affordability remains a key consideration for households and businesses, with the cost of medical treatment capable of affecting household finances and employees’ ability to remain economically active.
Adeniyi said the wider objective should therefore be to build systems in which Nigerians can obtain appropriate healthcare before illnesses become more severe and financially costly.
“Care is one of society’s greatest assets,” he said. “And when care is supported by accessible healthcare, its impact extends far beyond health outcomes. It becomes a catalyst for human progress.”
