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Doctors demand urgent summit, better welfare, policy reforms The Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged the federal and state governments to fix Nigeria’s ailing health system “from policy to patient” to get good results. The umbrella doctors’ union warned that inefficiency, poor funding, and neglect have continued to cripple service delivery across the healthcare value chain. The union’s State Chairman, Dr. Babajide Kehinde Saheed, gave the warning while addressing reporters yesterday in Lagos to mark the commencement of the 2025 Physicians’ Week at the NMA Lagos secretariat in Surulere. Saheed said this year’s theme: Healthcare as a Value Chain: Building Efficiency from Policy to Patient, reflected the urgent need to strengthen every level of the healthcare delivery process – from policy formulation to patient care. “The healthcare value chain connects all processes that create value for patients, providers, and policymakers. Yet, we continue to experience inefficiencies at almost every level,” he said. “We need a strong political will, sustainable health financing, local drug manufacturing, and policies that reward performance and retention.” Saheed noted that despite Nigeria’s numerous health sector policies and reforms, the system has remained burdened by brain drain, poor welfare of healthcare workers, dependence on imported drugs and medical supplies, weak infrastructure, and inadequate funding that still falls below the 15 per cent Abuja Declaration target. The union leader urged the federal and state governments to convene urgent health sector summits to review and align existing policies to current realities. He said this would ensure that health workers are adequately compensated and motivated to deliver quality services. The NMA also urged both the federal and state governments to improve remuneration and working conditions for doctors and other healthcare professionals to boost their morale and stem the ongoing brain drain. Read Also: Council chief facilitates release of five inmates It called for the full payment of outstanding skipping arrears and the provision of call-duty meals in tertiary hospitals to enhance staff welfare and productivity. The NMA branch called for a review of the 2006 Lagos State Health Sector Reform Law to address present-day challenges and realities in the health system. The association further demanded the implementation of structured two-term tenures for Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors to promote leadership stability and continuity in hospital administration. It also urged the government to protect salary relativity across health cadres and reverse the recent pay reductions affecting doctors in Lagos, warning that such policies could further demotivate health workers and worsen the exodus of medical professionals from the country. Saheed noted that the continued exodus of skilled health workers to other countries poses a major threat to Nigeria’s health security and urged the government to prioritise the welfare of medical professionals to stem the tide. “Our doctors are leaving in large numbers because they no longer see a future here. Without motivated and adequately supported personnel, no health system can thrive,” he warned. This year’s event also features a sub-theme, “AI Ethics and the Physician’s Role in Modern Healthcare,” to be led by Dr. Arogundade, President of the Society for Telemedicine and e-Health in Nigeria, and Dr. Achese Inimgba, founder of Medienna. According to Saheed, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare globally but presents significant ethical challenges , including fairness, privacy, transparency, and accountability, particularly in developing nations like Nigeria, where expertise and regulatory frameworks are limited. “Physicians must become AI literate and interpret algorithmic outputs responsibly,” he said. “Technology must support, not replace, human judgment in patient care.” The 2025 Physicians’ Week, which began with a Thanksgiving Service at the Chapel of Saint Luke the Physician, LASUTH, Ikeja, brings together doctors, policymakers, regulators, and partners to reflect on the state of healthcare in Lagos and Nigeria. The opening ceremony and scientific conference will be chaired by Dr. Adeleke Pitan, former Lagos Commissioner for Health and Education, while the keynote address will be delivered by Professor Akin Osibogun, former Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and past President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. Reaffirming NMA Lagos’ commitment to promoting the welfare of doctors and improving healthcare delivery, Saheed urged governments at all levels to prioritise health financing, expand insurance coverage, and invest in infrastructure and training. “It is only through coherent policies and responsible implementation that we can truly build efficiency from policy to patient,” he added.
