Nigeria@65: Prof. Omoti calls for urgent reforms to tackle challenges facing Nigerian Doctors

BENIN CITY – As Nigeria marks its 65th Independence anniversary, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Chairman of the Eye Health Committee of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Afekhide Ernest Omoti, has called for urgent reforms to address the worsening plight of Nigerian doctors and the healthcare sector.

Prof. Omoti, a former Chairman of the NMA in Edo State, in his Independence Day message, noted that while doctors remain the “unsung heroes” of the nation’s health system, they continue to work under daunting challenges ranging from poor funding and low remuneration to brain drain, insecurity, and inadequate professional development.

He lamented that Nigeria’s annual budgetary allocation to health has consistently fallen short of the 15 percent benchmark set by the 2001 Abuja Declaration, with only 5.18 percent allocated in the 2025 budget. 

According to him, this chronic underfunding leaves hospitals without basic medical equipment, drugs, and life-saving tools, forcing doctors to improvise in conditions that undermine patient care.

On remuneration, Omoti said Nigerian doctors are among the lowest paid in the world despite working long hours, with some enduring continuous 72-hour call duties without breaks. 

He added that delayed salaries, poor welfare packages, and multiple taxation on private practitioners have worsened morale in the profession. 

He described the mass emigration of doctors, commonly referred to as the “Japa syndrome” as the most devastating blow to Nigeria’s health system, warning that if the trend is not urgently addressed, it could lead to the total collapse of the sector.

Omoti also decried rising cases of violence against medical personnel, including assaults by patient relatives and arrests by security operatives following hospital deaths. 

He said doctors in rural and conflict-prone areas face additional risks while working odd hours without adequate protection. 

The medical professor further highlighted overwhelming workloads, limited access to research opportunities, and lack of continuous training as major setbacks that compromise quality healthcare delivery in the country.

He called for increased government investment in healthcare, improved remuneration and welfare packages for doctors, enhanced training opportunities, and stronger security measures to protect medical workers. 

He also urged greater collaboration between the public and private sectors in building hospital infrastructure, funding research, and supporting continuous education. 

According to him, political leaders must set the tone by patronising local hospitals in order to inspire confidence in Nigeria’s health system.

“As we mark this Independence Day, let us renew our commitment to building a healthcare system where doctors are empowered, patients are respected, and every Nigerian, regardless of location, has access to quality care,” he said. 

"Let us build a Nigeria where the next generation of doctors will choose to stay not out of duty, but out of pride in what we have built together. Happy 65th Independence Day, Nigeria. May our future be as bright as our hope.”