THE SECONDARY HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SERVICE
Act · Health
A Policy outlines standards for secondary health care delivery through government hospitals in Nigeria. It targets state and federal hospitals, patients from primary care, and health ministries to define services and referral systems. This improves access to quality health care nationwide.
THE SECONDARY HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SERVICE
What Is This Policy?
A policy and operational framework for the delivery of secondary-level health care in Nigeria through government-owned secondary hospitals, defining the service package, management standards, and referral systems.
Who Does It Target?
State-owned and federal secondary hospitals District and general hospitals Patients referred from primary health care State Ministries of Health managing secondary facilities
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Standardise and strengthen secondary health care delivery as the critical bridge between primary health care and tertiary specialist services, improving access to quality health care.
Key Features
Service Package: Defines the minimum package of clinical services that secondary hospitals must provide. Referral System: Establishes protocols for referring patients between primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Staffing Standards: Sets minimum staffing norms for secondary hospitals by bed size and specialty. Quality Standards: Prescribes quality standards for secondary care including infection prevention and drug availability.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Active — implementation through state health systems Coverage: Secondary hospitals in all states Beneficiaries: Patients referred from primary care; communities with secondary hospitals Funding: Federal and state government health budgets
How to Access
Patients with conditions beyond primary care capacity are referred to the nearest secondary hospital Secondary hospitals must provide services within their defined package or refer upward Access free of charge for NHIS enrollees Application method: Access secondary health care through referral from primary health care or self-referral.
Official Resources
Website: https://www.health.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Health
Legal Framework
Operates under the National Health Act 2014, the National Health Policy, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency Act, and the Universal Health Coverage framework. Draws on WHO standards for secondary care delivery, the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response system, and state health systems laws.