The Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) and the Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Medical Intervention Trust Fund (MITF) jointly.
The pioneering initiative aims to transform emergency healthcare response and financing across Nigeria.
It seeks to address urgent gaps in Nigeria’s emergency care system, including limited insurance coverage, high maternal and infant mortality, poor post-crash response, and financial barriers to treatment.
By combining HFN’s extensive sector influence with HEI’s proven track record of supporting over 36,700 indigent patients and resuscitating 5,800 accident victims, the collaboration aims to save more lives and build a sustainable framework for emergency healthcare delivery.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Njide Ndili, president of HFN, emphasised that this collaboration reflects a shared commitment to bridging critical gaps in the health ecosystem.
She said: “Too many lives are lost every day due to delays in treatment and the inability to pay for emergency care. The Medical Intervention Trust Fund is a game changer because it creates a credible, transparent, and sustainable mechanism to finance emergency interventions when and where they are needed most.”
Ndili also highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration, stressing that the initiative reflects the power of partnership.
She explained that by bringing together the private sector, civil society, development partners, and government stakeholders, every Nigerian, regardless of socioeconomic status, can have the opportunity to receive timely and quality emergency care.
Paschal Achunine, executive director of the Health Emergency Initiative, emphasised the life-saving significance of the partnership, pointing out that many Nigerians lose their lives not due to a lack of treatment but because of delays in accessing emergency care.
He noted that the MITF will build on a proven model of rapid financial intervention, one that has already saved thousands of lives, and will now be scaled to reach even more people in need.
He added that beyond financial assistance, the Fund will also strengthen skills and capacity across the country. “We will train bystanders, first responders, and community members in Basic Life Support, First Aid, and Trauma Care. By empowering ordinary citizens alongside medical professionals, the MITF will create a nationwide safety net that makes emergency care faster, more effective, and more inclusive.”
The MITF is designed to complement existing government mechanisms such as the 5% emergency fund under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).
However, delays in disbursement and complex access procedures often leave patients stranded and providers unpaid, leading to denial of service and preventable deaths. By closing this gap, the MITF will make funds readily available and deployable in real time, ensuring timely, life-saving interventions.
The initiative will also fund critical hospital infrastructure, promote the integration of technology and data for faster response times, and advocate for legislative reforms such as a Good Samaritan Law to remove barriers to emergency treatment.
HFN and HEI have committed to fast-tracking the Fund’s operational framework within six months, engaging government, civil society, and development partners for a whole-of-society approach.
This MoU signing marks the beginning of a transformative partnership aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s emergency healthcare landscape. With this framework, the two organisations affirm their commitment to ensuring that financial constraints never stifle prompt, life-saving care for Nigerians in crisis. HFN and HEI invite stakeholders across the health sector to collaborate in scaling this initiative, ensuring no Nigerian is denied life-saving care due to cost or delay.
The Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to saving lives by providing emergency medical support for indigent patients and victims of road crashes across Nigeria.
Since 2015, HEI has supported over 35,000 patients, resuscitated thousands of accident victims, and trained more than 147,000 First Responders, advancing its vision that “none should die” from preventable causes.
The Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) is the umbrella body for private-sector stakeholders dedicated to improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Through advocacy, capacity building, and strategic partnerships, HFN plays a leading role in shaping policy, driving innovation, and advancing universal health coverage across the country.
