Equipment leasing is the process of securing the use of machinery and equipment related to one’s business by way of a rental agreement. Many industries make use of equipment leasing. This might be an ideal situation for a new business or an established business with little working capital so that the financial resources that otherwise would have been used in purchasing the equipment, can be tailored to more pressing needs.  In Nigeria, the Leasing Industry is doing well. In 2012, it had an outstanding lease volume of N671 billion. By 2013, this had grown to N780 billion, which grew by 11.3% to N869 billion in 2014.

In terms of total value, the industry has recorded transactions worth N4.8 trillion over the past decade (see the ELAN website for more information).However, the healthcare industry is visibly absent. As a result of the foregoing, the HFN is convening the Conference in association with the Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN) at the Medic West Africa exhibition to further explore and examine this path as a means of viable supply-side financing for healthcare in Nigeria.

Stakeholders have noted that the challenges of providing efficient healthcare services due to lack of necessary equipment can be overcome with leasing. Thus, the HFN’s expectation is that this is will arm participants and attendees with the information required to enable them optimize this for the growth of their businesses and for improved health outcomes in the nation.