"65 Years Post-Independence: Nigeria's Healthcare Crisis Persists, Warns Lagos NMA"

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Challenges in Healthcare
• The Brain Drain Issue
• Inadequate Funding
• Neglect of Primary Healthcare
• Public Health Preparedness
• Recommendations for Improvement
• Conclusion

Sixty-five years after Nigeria gained independence, the nation's health sector continues to face significant challenges, as stated by Dr. Sahedd Babajide, Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Chapter.

Addressing the current state of healthcare in the country, Babajide expressed disappointment that, despite numerous reforms and substantial investments, the system remains fragile and unable to provide equitable, quality services to Nigerians.

He highlighted one of the most pressing issues as the ongoing brain drain, commonly referred to as the “Japa syndrome,” where numerous doctors and healthcare professionals leave for better opportunities abroad. He emphasized that reversing this trend will necessitate competitive salaries, tax-exempt call duty allowances, robust welfare packages, ongoing training and research support, infrastructure enhancements, and a more conducive work environment.

Regarding funding, Babajide characterized healthcare financing as “grossly inadequate.” He pointed out that both federal and state governments currently allocate only about 4–6% of their annual budgets to health, significantly below the 15% target set by African leaders in the 2001 Abuja Declaration. He also criticized the misallocation of limited resources to “elephant projects” that provide minimal or no benefit to the populace.

The NMA chairman expressed concern over the neglect of primary healthcare facilities, warning that without a solid foundational system, secondary and tertiary institutions will remain underdeveloped. He noted that poor infrastructure, outdated equipment, and insufficient facilities render the sector unappealing for practitioners and unsafe for patients.

He also voiced worries that Nigeria is ill-equipped for public health emergencies, epidemics, or disasters, while medical tourism continues to deplete national resources due to a lack of political will to enhance domestic healthcare services.

To revitalize the sector, Babajide proposed:

• Upgrading and standardizing primary, secondary, and tertiary health systems.
• Ensuring adequate healthcare financing with responsible management, transparent procurement, and regular audits.
• Establishing clear career progression pathways for healthcare workers and appointing qualified professionals as institutional leaders.
• Creating Infectious Disease Hospitals (IDHs) and Trauma Centres in every state and the Federal Capital Territory.
• Developing multi-specialty hospitals focused on pediatrics, renal care, cardiac treatment, oncology, and neurosurgery.
• Enhancing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to broaden coverage and improve service delivery.

Babajide asserted that if urgent reforms are not enacted, Nigeria risks further deterioration of its healthcare system, which would have severe implications for both its citizens and the economy.