By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – A civil society group, the Coalition of Concerned Nigerians on Health Reform, has passed a vote of no confidence on the leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Nigeria’s health sector.
In a statement titled “Enough Is Enough: Declare a State of Emergency in Nigeria’s Health Sector Now,” and signed by its Coordinator, Muniretu Isa, the coalition said Nigeria’s healthcare system had deteriorated beyond routine policy interventions.
The group accused the minister of failing to address critical challenges confronting the sector, citing a shortage of healthcare workers, poor hospital infrastructure, inadequate funding, and the persistent migration of medical professionals abroad.
It noted that it is worrisome that Nigeria has only about 55,000 licensed doctors serving a population of over 220 million, describing the situation as a major contributor to overstretched hospitals, delayed medical care, and declining access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural communities.
The coalition also noted that unresolved labour disputes, poor remuneration, unpaid allowances, shortage of essential drugs, obsolete medical equipment, inadequate diagnostic facilities, and poor working conditions are factors threatening the country’s healthcare delivery.
It expressed concern over rising maternal and child mortality, the growing burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and the increasing cost of healthcare, which it said has forced many Nigerians to pay out-of-pocket for treatment.
In an urgent call for urgent presidential intervention, the group charged President Tinubu to launch a comprehensive recovery programme that would include emergency recruitment and retention of health workers, improved welfare packages, including increased healthcare funding, modernization of hospitals, expansion of residency training, stronger health insurance coverage, and policies to reverse the brain drain in the sector.
The coalition noted that Nigeria can no longer depend on gradual reforms, insisting that only decisive action by the Federal Government can prevent a total collapse of the nation’s healthcare system.
It maintained that it had lost confidence in Prof. Pate’s leadership and appealed to the President to declare a state of emergency in the health sector without further delay.
