5 Medical Personnel discuss Nigeria’s Healthcare Challenges and Measures for Improvements
Doctors and future doctors discuss the medical issues prevalent in the country
The healthcare sector in Nigeria is consistently grappling with significant challenges. Frequent occurrences affirm that Nigeria's healthcare system is in dire need of swift recovery. The news is always buzzing with stories about different incidents that happen, some of which have very severe repercussions (avoidable deaths of patients and doctors). This is mostly due to inadequate facilities, and poor government intervention; these issues underscore the urgent need for a robust revival of Nigeria’s healthcare system. In this article, five Nigerians in the health sector share their opinions on the healthcare challenges and probable measures for improvement.
1) Dr. Osinusi Ifeoluwa Bsc, MB;BS - Medical doctor
Healthcare fails to garner sufficient national priority in Nigeria, evidenced by underfunding, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to essential services, highlighting systemic challenges that hinder the population's health and well-being. The life expectancy of an average Nigerian is 55 years. This means the average Nigerian may never see his/her 56th birthday. This is abysmal especially when compared to other countries where life expectancy can be as high as 85 years. This isn’t surprising as The Nigerian government historically hasn’t shown enough interest in the health sector of the country which has clearly impacted the life expectancy of her citizens, as life expectancy is highly dependent on how strong the health sector of a society is. We currently live in a society where there’s a significant paucity of human and material resources in our hospitals. The World Health Organization recommends a ratio of 1 Doctor to 600 patients but unsurprisingly we are living in a country where the Doctor-to-patient ratio is about 1:10000 and what makes this even worse is how undervalued, underappreciated, and underpaid these heroes are.
The question that begs to ask is why? Why is this happening?
Paradoxically it’s a bit complex yet very Simple; Poor funding and massive corruption.
Corruption is a major factor in society, affecting health and societal progress. It starts from creating an ideology and an environment that doesn’t thrive on corruption but rewards diligence, hard work, and honesty. The moment we sort this out, we will definitely see a society with robust health care that will not just take care of its citizens.
The Saudi Royal Family visited University College Hospital, Ibadan (UCH) during the golden age of the 60s, showcasing the potential for a robust healthcare system that not only cares for its citizens but also generates forex and improves the economy.
Is it possible for our healthcare system to return to such glory? Yes, it’s possible.
The only price to pay is for our leaders to develop the will to do the right thing. It’s possible.
2) Pharm. Adesete Surajudeen - Hospital Pharmacist
The high expense of healthcare in Nigeria means that many of its people cannot afford basic medical care. We always chant that health is wealth but we're gradually getting to the point where health is only obtainable in the presence of wealth. Sometime ago, there was a case of a newborn who was born with a cleft lip palate. They required surgery to avoid functional problems with teeth, breathing and speech. One newborn went through the surgery and the other could not because of cost, the little girl died after 3 years because of complications due to cleft lip palate. Sickle cell disease is a very expensive one as patients have to continuously purchase several drugs to have a little bit of comfort. It is not always the case, but reports have it that people with the money to purchase the drugs have higher survival chances. As basic as sanitary towels may seem, the cost has pushed some women to adopt unhealthy materials for menstruation.
Pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria face high costs, preventing access to high-quality care and disadvantaged populations from receiving appropriate treatment options. To address this, the government should subsidize healthcare access, reduce production costs, and promote local drug manufacturing through tax exemptions and interest-free loans. Organizations like WHO and UNICEF can help by donating essential drugs to local manufacturers, reducing dependence on imported products and making healthcare more accessible to the common man.
3) Olawale Mayomikun - Final year medical student
The problem of lack of funding to build and maintain infrastructure holds a treacherous impact on the lives of individuals who at one time in their life will seek medical help. Last year, a young medical doctor, Vwaere Diaso, fell to her death after the elevator she was riding in lost control and tumbled down from the ninth floor of the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island. It was reported by several witnesses that the same elevator had been faulty for a while and complaints had been made but the elevator remained faulty. The young doctor with a promising future lost her life to an avoidable cause and that is very disheartening. Shockingly, there are several procedures we can’t carry out in Nigeria because we don’t have the necessary infrastructure. During the COVID-19 pandemic, facilities were available in very few states in Nigeria as should not be.
Optimum healthcare financing is quite essential to the proper functioning of all levels of the health sector. In Nigeria, more than 70% of healthcare spending is paid out-of-pocket which is catastrophic. The coverage of the National Health Insurance has remained abysmal in Nigeria after 20 years of operations.
To address this shortfall, Nigeria should enhance its healthcare legislation to mandate universal health insurance coverage and ensure adequate government funding for the healthcare system. Additionally, a more comprehensive health financing policy with clear objectives and measurable targets should be developed to achieve universal health coverage.
4) Dr. Mrs. Osundare Yetunde J. - Consultant Paediatrician (UNIMEDTH Laje Ondo, Ondo State)
The lack of adequately trained and compensated healthcare personnel in Nigeria poses a significant challenge, leading to substandard patient care and hampering the effectiveness of the healthcare system. Not to downplay anyone’s hustle but the doctors who save lives are paid way less than the entertainers, and I don’t think it should be so. This is part of the reason we are currently experiencing a massive brain drain, which is extremely hazardous to the health sector of our beloved country. Doctors are overworked and the doctors that have fled the country are barely replaced.
Last year, doctors went on a strike for over one week, asking for payment of unpaid salaries and employment of more doctors to fill the space for doctors who have left but what did the government tell us despite all the unpaid money? “No work, no pay”
The issue of inadequate grants or funds to carry out research and development is also a contributing factor. It is really disheartening how money is spluttered on several frivolities but we turn to economists with issues regarding health. We major in minors, what happened to health being wealth?
These unaddressed issues will only lead to deeper dents in the nation's health sector.
Addressing this issue requires investment in training programs, competitive salaries, and improved working conditions to attract and retain skilled professionals, thus enhancing overall healthcare delivery and outcomes
5) Olanrewaju Hephzibah - 400 level Medical student
In Nigeria's healthcare sector, patient uninformedness is a critical challenge, hindering effective treatment and exacerbating health outcomes. I am really passionate about so many things, but health tops the list. I’d use my personal experience to give my thoughts on it. Sickle cell disease is a disease that hampers the quality of life of patients with this condition. The things that people can do, like playing sports and all of that, I cannot engage in because I am almost always in pain. It might seem hard to believe but would you imagine that there are still people out there in committed relationships that don’t know their genotypes?
On the other extreme, we have people who know their genotypes but are not informed of the consequences of being with someone with an incompatible genotype (I mean two sickle cell carriers). On another extreme, there are those who know their genotypes, they know the consequences too, I choose to label them the wicked ones
When people are uninformed, it increases the risk of health hazards because they don’t know what and what not to do. For instance, a person who has diabetes or hypertension going about his/her daily life.
The problem is not with the people because I have come to understand that people are quite receptive when you take the right approach. An approach that will be more productive is informing people of the problems as well as the solutions. We need to be willing to have more health awareness programs and focus primarily on the rural areas where ignorance is palpable. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to health. As medical professionals, our job is not just confined to the walls of the hospital, we need to put in the extra effort to conduct awareness campaigns and medical outreaches. Implementing comprehensive health education programs, enhancing doctor-patient communication, and leveraging technology for accessible health information dissemination are potential measures to improve patient awareness and empowerment, thereby addressing this pressing issue.
