Coalition Pressures Tinubu: Declare Health Sector Emergency Now

President Bola Tinubu is facing urgent calls from a coalition of concerned Nigerians to declare a state of emergency within the nation's healthcare sector. The group highlights critical issues such as severe manpower deficits, crumbling infrastructure, and dwindling access to quality medical care across the nation.

This urgent appeal came during a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, organised by the Coalition of Concerned Nigerians on Health Reform. Members of the coalition stressed the immediate need for government intervention to prevent further decline of Nigeria's already struggling health system.

Muniretu Isa, the coalition's Coordinator, addressed the press, stating that Nigeria's health system is grappling with immense pressure, largely due to the ongoing exodus of medical professionals seeking greener pastures overseas. Isa emphasized, "The shortage of healthcare workers has reached a critical level." He cited alarming statistics from the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors' Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference, revealing that merely about 55,000 licensed doctors are available to cater to Nigeria's over 220 million citizens.

According to the coalition, this severe deficit has led to nationwide hospital overstretch, manifesting in extended waiting periods, delayed emergency interventions, and restricted access to specialized medical services. This impact is particularly acute in rural areas, where numerous primary healthcare centres operate without adequate staff, essential medications, and functional equipment.

Furthermore, the coalition voiced apprehension regarding persistent industrial actions by healthcare professionals. They linked these disputes to factors such as insufficient remuneration, poor welfare provisions, staff shortages, substandard working environments, inadequate funding for residency training, and underinvestment in hospital infrastructure. Observations also indicate that a multitude of public hospitals are contending with dilapidated facilities, outdated medical apparatus, subpar laboratory services, inconsistent power supply, and a scarcity of vital drugs.

A further warning from the coalition highlighted how soaring medicine costs, inflationary pressures, and Nigeria's heavy reliance on imported pharmaceuticals have collectively rendered healthcare increasingly inaccessible for a large segment of the population. They added that critical public health challenges persist, including high rates of maternal and child mortality, coupled with the significant burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases, all demanding immediate government intervention.

In response to this crisis, the coalition has implored the Federal Government to initiate a robust healthcare recovery plan. This plan should prioritize the urgent recruitment and retention of medical personnel, enhance welfare packages, boost investment in both hospitals and primary healthcare facilities, modernize medical equipment, expand residency training opportunities, strengthen domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, increase overall healthcare funding, broaden health insurance coverage, and introduce policies designed to stem the outflow of health professionals.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the current pace of health sector reforms, the group called on President Tinubu to undertake decisive measures to bolster healthcare delivery across the nation. They asserted that a declaration of a state of emergency in the sector would significantly expedite reforms, improve citizens' access to quality healthcare, and ultimately fortify the resilience of Nigeria's health system.