Medical experts under the West African College of Physicians (WACP) have called on the Federal Government and state governments to significantly increase investment in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, urging authorities to strengthen medical training, improve hospital infrastructure and embrace digital technology to tackle growing challenges facing the country’s health system.
The physicians said Nigeria can only build a resilient healthcare system through sustained funding, modern medical education and the adoption of digital innovations capable of improving patient care and expanding access to quality health services across the country.
The appeal was made during a press conference held in Ibadan, Oyo State, ahead of the annual scientific conference of the West African College of Physicians, where healthcare professionals from across the region gathered to discuss solutions to emerging medical challenges.
Speaking on behalf of the college, the Chairman of the Nigeria Chapter and Vice-President of the WACP, Prof. Benjamin Uzochukwu, stressed that governments at all levels must move beyond temporary interventions by establishing sustainable healthcare financing systems capable of supporting long-term growth in the sector.
He noted that healthcare facilities across Nigeria continue to struggle with inadequate infrastructure, unreliable electricity, shortage of medical personnel, insufficient diagnostic equipment and poor access to essential services, all of which affect the quality of care available to patients.
The physicians also called for greater investment in digital medical training, explaining that technology has become an essential part of modern healthcare. They said doctors and other health professionals must be equipped with digital skills that will enable them to deliver more efficient, accurate and accessible medical services.
According to the college, expanding the use of digital health tools will improve patient management, support remote consultations, strengthen medical research and enhance the training of healthcare workers across Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
The experts further urged governments to improve blood transfusion services, expand access to quality diagnostic facilities and ensure equitable healthcare delivery so that people in rural and underserved communities can receive the same standard of medical care as those in urban centres.
They maintained that addressing the shortage of healthcare workers through better welfare packages, continuous professional development and improved working conditions would also help reduce the migration of skilled Nigerian doctors and other medical professionals to foreign countries.
The college expressed optimism that with sustained investment, stronger partnerships and the effective deployment of digital technology, Nigeria can build a healthcare system capable of meeting the growing needs of its population while improving health outcomes for millions of citizens.