In the year 2025, Nigeria's health sector faced a challenging period marked by unmet expectations and a deteriorating healthcare delivery system. Despite some infrastructural improvements, the year was characterized by significant setbacks and missed opportunities, as highlighted by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
The Year in Review:
2025 was a year of missed priorities and structural failures in the federal health sector. The Japa syndrome, a term referring to the mass exodus of healthcare professionals seeking better opportunities abroad, remained a pressing issue. Doctors attributed this trend to poor remuneration, inadequate welfare packages, and limited training opportunities. The government's handling of industrial disputes, including prolonged strike actions, exacerbated the situation, disrupting services and causing public suffering.
The NMA's review painted a grim picture of healthcare access. Nigeria's health indices remained low, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) was weak, and health insurance coverage excluded a large portion of the population. The cost of healthcare rose sharply due to high drug prices and tariffs on imported medical equipment. Primary healthcare, the foundation of an effective health system, received minimal attention, while power supply issues continued to hinder service delivery in many health institutions.
The Ministry's Misplaced Focus:
The NMA criticized the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for its misplaced focus. Instead of concentrating on core healthcare delivery, the ministry prioritized data collection, research, and engagement with international partners. This led to a situation where Nigerians struggled to access basic care while the ministry pursued other objectives.
Infrastructure Improvements and Challenges:
While there was a notable positive in 2025, according to the NMA, it was a fair level of improvement in infrastructure, particularly hospital buildings. However, practitioners emphasized that buildings alone cannot save lives without adequate staffing, equipment, and financing. The association called for a comprehensive approach to address the Japa syndrome, advocating for improved welfare benefits, affordable housing, structured training, and worker-friendly policies.
The Road to 2026:
As Nigeria moves into 2026, the NMA Lagos State Chairman, Dr. Saheed Babajide, has called for a decisive shift in policy and priorities. Central to their demands is improved welfare for healthcare workers, including better living wages and competitive remuneration. To curb the Japa syndrome, the NMA is advocating for a comprehensive package that addresses welfare, housing, training, and career progression.
On the service delivery front, the doctors want healthcare to be more accessible, affordable, and qualitative. This includes expanding UHC, reforming health insurance coverage, and reducing the cost of care through lower tariffs and drug prices. The NMA also urged the government to increase budgetary allocation to the health sector, strengthen primary healthcare, and establish specialist hospitals across geopolitical zones.
Funding, Infrastructure, and Trust:
The association emphasized the need for immediate implementation of the extension of retirement age for healthcare workers and a renewed focus on primary healthcare. They argued that collaboration between government and private hospitals could reduce mortality and bridge access gaps. Power supply remains a critical concern, as unreliable electricity hampers even basic service delivery.
On funding, the doctors urged the Federal Government to increase the health sector's budget allocation from 6% to 15%, in line with the Abuja Declaration, while ensuring transparency and efficiency in fund usage.
Leadership and Dialogue:
The medical professionals stressed that resolving recurrent strike actions requires a new approach based on dialogue, respect, and dignity. They emphasized the importance of listening to and respecting health workers' concerns, as their strikes ultimately affect ordinary Nigerians. As Nigeria steps into 2026, doctors warn that without urgent reforms, the country risks deeper workforce losses and worsening health outcomes, emphasizing the need for a functional health system as a national priority.
