Biodun Esan, Ilorin
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kwara State Chapter, has called on the federal, state, and local governments to initiate far-reaching policy reforms that will strengthen every aspect of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
NMA Chairman in the state, Prof Abdulrahman Afolabi, made the call on Monday in Ilorin at a media briefing to mark the 2025 Physicians’ Week.
He emphasized that healthcare delivery should be viewed as a continuous value chain that begins with policy formulation and culminates in patient outcomes.
Represented by Dr. Ayinde Musa, the acting chairman of the association, Afolabi explained that effective healthcare goes beyond hospital services, noting that every stage, from planning and funding to infrastructure, training, and service delivery, contributes to the quality of care.
“When one link in the chain is weak, whether it is poor policy implementation, inadequate funding, lack of equipment, or workforce shortage, the entire system suffers,” he said.
Afolabi said that Nigeria’s health sector is burdened by poor funding, policy inconsistencies, and the continuous migration of medical professionals.
He added that weak primary healthcare structures and poor coordination between service levels further worsen the system’s inefficiency.
“To build real efficiency, we must adopt a system-thinking approach that aligns policy, practice, and patient-centered outcomes,” he advised.
The NMA Chairman, therefore, urged policymakers to consult practitioners before designing health-related policies.
He also reminded NMA members to uphold professional ethics, stressing that equitable access to quality healthcare remains the ultimate goal.
“Efficiency in healthcare is not about speed alone; it is about delivering the right care, at the right time, by the right team, using the right resources,” Afolabi said.
Speaking on the sub-theme of the celebration, “AI, Ethics and the Physician’s Role in Modern Healthcare”, Afolabi cautioned that Artificial Intelligence should complement, not replace, human intelligence in medical practice.
“No algorithm can replicate the compassion, moral reasoning, and trust that define the physician-patient relationship.
“Physicians must be active participants in shaping this technological transformation to ensure that technology serves humanity, not the other way around,” he maintained.
Activities lined up for the 2025 Physicians’ Week include visits to orphanages and school sensitization programs under the initiative “Young Doctors’ Day,” designed to inspire interest in the medical profession among young students.
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