Diagnostic accuracy of healthcare workers declines – NBS

Diagnostic accuracy among healthcare workers in Nigeria’s public health facilities has declined from 56.2% in 2023 to 46.1% in 2025, the latest new report shows.

The findings come from the National Health Facility Survey (NHFS) released on Wednesday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Abuja, which provides updated data on service quality and healthcare delivery nationwide.

The report assessed diagnostic accuracy using vignettes across five priority diseases, diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria, postpartum hemorrhage and asphyxia, and highlighted persistent gaps in healthcare delivery and clinical decision-making across the country of Nigeria.

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It showed that the North East had the highest diagnostic accuracy at 54.3%, while the South West had the lowest at 36.7%, reflecting significant regional disparities in clinical performance levels.

At the state level, Zamfara recorded the highest diagnostic accuracy at 79.0%, while Osun recorded the lowest at 13.4%, indicating stark differences in the capacity of health workers nationwide.

Further analysis showed that secondary healthcare facilities performed better with a diagnostic accuracy of 68.1%, compared to 44.6% for primary facilities, underlining the gap between different levels of care provision across the country.

According to executives, doctors recorded the highest diagnostic accuracy with 74.3%, followed by nurses and midwives with 56.3%, while the other categories achieved significantly lower results overall.

“Community Health Extension Workers (CHEW) at 43.7% and other health workers at 32.3%.”

The survey also revealed moderate adherence to clinical guidelines nationwide, with uneven levels of compliance.

It showed that the North East once again ranked first with 62.9%, while the South West recorded the lowest with 46.9%, with notable state variations in take-up levels across Nigeria.

“Borno recorded the highest level of compliance at the state level at 70.2%, while Osun recorded the lowest at 41.3%.

The report details disease-specific adherence across all priority conditions assessed in the survey.

Adherence to physical examination guidelines was low nationally at 31.0%, with the Northeast at 46.1% and the Southwest at 24.4%, indicating persistent clinical weaknesses.

For essential medicines, availability improved to 37.4% in 2025 from 35.0% in 2023. “Primary facilities recorded 36.2% availability, while secondary facilities recorded 60.6%.

“Edo recorded the highest level at 57.3%, while Katsina recorded the lowest level.

“Regionally, the South West had the highest availability at 42.3%, while the North West had the lowest at 31.0%.

The report also examined disparities in access to medications nationwide.

The availability of basic medical equipment stands at 36.9% nationally, with 34.8% in primary facilities and 76.8% in secondary facilities, highlighting important infrastructure gaps.

The report said several states, including Bauchi, Borno, Ebonyi, Gombe, Jigawa, Ondo, Sokoto, Katsina and the FCT, recorded 100% availability, while Osun had the lowest at 9.1%.

Infection prevention and control indicators show that 82.0% of facilities have safety deposit boxes, 51.0% have waste containers, 74.1% have handwashing units and 79.9% have gloves.

“However, only 26.5% had long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) or LLIN vouchers, indicating poor malaria prevention preparedness in facilities.” The report highlighted gaps in preventative health measures nationwide.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NHFS 2025 was conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, with support from the World Bank.

The 2025 survey builds on previous rounds conducted in 2016, 2019 and 2023, providing trend data to assess progress and identify persistent gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare system over time.

According to the report, 3,330 health facilities across the 36 states and the FCT were selected and visited, with a nominal sample size of 90 facilities per state and territory.

He said the coverage is extended to public primary and secondary healthcare facilities, as well as private facilities, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of service delivery and resource availability across Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

(NAN)

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