Nigeria: Stop Practices Eroding Public Trust in Healthcare - Govt to Doctors
[Vanguard] The Federal Government has challenged Nigerian doctors to confront professional misconduct within their ranks, warning that absenteeism, diversion of public patients, informal payments and other unethical practices are eroding public trust in the healthcare system.
The Nigerian government has called upon doctors to address professional misconduct in the healthcare system. Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, emphasized that absenteeism, diversion of public patients, informal payments, and unethical practices are undermining public trust. He stressed that these issues must be confronted, stating that investments in the health sector could be wasted if patients continue to encounter unethical behavior at health facilities.
Salako highlighted that trust between patients and doctors is reciprocal, with patients assessing the system based on factors such as doctor availability, unauthorized payments, appropriate referrals, and treatment dignity. He urged the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to view professional conduct as a strategic asset rather than an issue to avoid public scrutiny.
The government has taken several steps to improve healthcare, including increasing funding, investing in the sector, and raising the health budget to 5.2% of the national budget. The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) has grown from N131.5 billion in 2024 to N299 billion in 2026, with over N339 billion disbursed over the past 12 years. Additionally, more than 8,000 primary healthcare centers have been financed directly, and nearly 4,000 PHCs have been upgraded.
In terms of maternal and newborn health, the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative has led to a 17% reduction in maternal deaths and a 12% decline in newborn deaths in high-burden areas. Health insurance coverage has expanded from 16 million Nigerians in 2023 to over 22 million. The Ministry also addressed the health workforce challenge by recruiting over 37,000 workers into federal tertiary hospitals and increasing special allowances for health workers.
The government is committed to reforming and investing in the health sector, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration seeking to rebuild confidence through measurable performance. Salako assured the medical profession of continued dialogue and accountability, urging them to fight quackery, which he described as a serious threat to public health.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
