- Published by
- Malaria Consortium
This paper examines how Nigeria attempted to build a sustainable commercial market for long-lasting insecticidal nets alongside large-scale free distribution campaigns.
Drawing on the SuNMaP programme’s experience, it analyses why retail sales of nets struggled, including low consumer awareness, leakage from free distributions, limited product choice and weak incentives for private firms.
It documents a shift from direct price subsidies to a market systems approach focused on strengthening demand, distribution, coordination with the public sector and long-term incentives for businesses.
The paper is useful for public health and market systems practitioners working on 'total market' approaches. It offers practical lessons on balancing free provision for vulnerable groups with commercial viability, avoiding crowding out private actors and designing interventions that support sustainability, innovation and value for money in health commodity markets