Nigerian Medical Association calls for urgent health policy reform, urging government to act with political will and improve Nigeria’s failing healthcare system

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called for a comprehensive health policy reform that is both context-sensitive and inclusive, urging the government to show genuine political will to overhaul the country’s healthcare system.

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Speaking at a dinner marking the 2025 National Physicians Week in Uyo on Friday, NMA President Dr Bala Mohammed Audu said that for reforms to succeed, policies must align with realities at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of healthcare.

Audu lamented that Nigeria’s health expenditure remains at just 4.08 per cent of GDP, far below the global average and the Abuja Declaration benchmark.

He criticised what he described as “fragmented reactive spending” and called for sustainable financing models and stronger diagnostic and supply systems.

“Well-crafted and evidence-based policies must translate into action, not remain confined to government documents,” Audu said. “We must demand implementation-ready policies that reflect real conditions in our hospitals and communities.”

He pledged that the NMA would continue to collaborate with governments at all levels to ensure that reform policies are properly executed, emphasising that effective healthcare requires strengthening every link in the value chain—from policy to patient.

In his address, the Akwa Ibom State NMA Chairman, Dr Aniekan Peter, praised doctors for their resilience despite “harsh and overstretched” working conditions.

He noted that Nigerian doctors often see more than 60 patients daily, compared with about 20 in developed countries.

Peter commended Governor Umo Eno for improving doctors’ welfare through wage and allowance increases, as well as better infrastructure.

He also listed some achievements of his executive committee, including over N11 million spent on members’ medical support, payment of promotion arrears, and scholarship awards to deserving dependents of deceased members.

Also speaking, Dr Tiemah Akpabio, Vice Chairman of the NMA in the state, urged doctors to see themselves as the bridge between policy-making and patient care, stressing that embracing Artificial Intelligence in healthcare would enhance—not replace—their roles.

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The NMA maintained that a transformative and well-coordinated health policy is the key to addressing Nigeria’s systemic challenges, from doctor burnout to poor patient outcomes.