Lagos unveils revised task-shifting policy to bridge health workforce gaps
By Folashade Olorunfunmi
As part of efforts to address persistent human resource gaps and expand access to essential healthcare for its over 30 million residents, the Lagos State Government has launched its revised Task-Shifting and Task-Sharing (TSTS) Policy.
The launch, held in Ikeja, convened policymakers, development partners, professional bodies and technical experts, who described the revised policy as a critical tool for advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, said the revised TSTS policy was adapted from the national framework and redesigned to reflect Lagos State’s unique population dynamics and healthcare service realities. She explained that the updated policy integrates broader stakeholder input, clearer operational guidelines and stronger alignment with global best practices.
According to Ogunyemi, the policy empowers frontline healthcare workers including nurses, midwives and Community-Oriented Resource Persons (CORPs) to take on expanded responsibilities in three priority areas: Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N); Tuberculosis, Malaria and HIV; and Non-Communicable Diseases.
She noted that the framework will strengthen primary healthcare delivery, reduce avoidable referrals and improve equitable access to essential services, particularly in underserved communities.
She added that the policy is supported by a costed implementation plan and detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that define training requirements, supervision mechanisms and task boundaries for each cadre, urging professional bodies, development partners and other stakeholders to collaborate closely to ensure effective implementation and system-wide impact.
In her welcome address, the Coordinating Director of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Folashade Oludara, said the policy adaptation process was conducted with due consideration for legal safeguards and alignment with the National TSTS framework, describing the document as a strategic response to ongoing workforce shortages, designed to maintain quality and safety of care.
Oludara explained that the policy allows lower-cadre health workers to deliver life-saving services in situations where higher-level personnel are unavailable, provided they undergo rigorous training and demonstrate the required competencies.
Presenting an overview of the policy, the Director of Healthcare Planning, Research and Statistics at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olajumoke Oyenuga, said the revised policy is accompanied by a costed implementation plan and SOPs to guide training, deployment and quality assurance, stressing that task-shifting will only be applied where primary cadres are unavailable or overstretched, describing it as a vital strategy for improving equity and access under the UHC agenda.
