Pharmacist Decries Loss of Empathy in Nigerian Healthcare, Announces Panel to Restore Humanity in Care
A pharmacist and healthcare analyst, Pharm. Judith Ngozi Udeh, Principal Manager, Marketing, Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited, has expressed deep concern over the declining level of empathy among healthcare workers in Nigeria, describing it as a dangerous trend that undermines patient confidence and quality of care.
Speaking on her health podcast, Udeh shared a personal experience she described as “emotionally draining,” lamenting that many patients now leave hospitals more traumatised than they came, not because of their illnesses, but because of the attitude of caregivers.
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“I’m baffled by what is happening in our hospitals,” she said. “A patient walks in and gets battered — not by sickness, but by words and attitude. Where is our empathy? What happened to sympathy?”
She narrated how, after paying ₦60,000 to consult a specialist for persistent migraines, she was dismissed and ridiculed as exaggerating her condition. “If I didn’t know better, I would have left that hospital depressed,” she said, stressing that health workers are called to heal and not to destroy.
Udeh reminded healthcare professionals that every caregiver — doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and others — took an oath to protect life. According to her, “our words can heal or destroy,” urging practitioners to separate personal frustrations from their duty of care and always to approach patients with compassion.
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“No one goes to the hospital for fun,” she noted. “We must remember that a kind word and a listening ear can sometimes be as powerful as medicine.”
As part of her advocacy to restore compassion in care, Udeh announced an upcoming health panel discussion titled “When Seeking Medical Help Becomes Another Source of Pain: Restoring Empathy and Humanity in Healthcare Practice.”
She said the planning committee is already working on the session, which will bring together medical professionals, mental health advocates, and patient-rights campaigners to examine the growing “empathy gap” in healthcare delivery — and how to rebuild a culture of compassion, respect, and patient-centred service.
“Healthcare is meant to heal, comfort, and restore hope — not cause more pain,” Udeh emphasized. “This is a call to every healthcare provider: let’s make our patients feel heard, valued, and cared for. May God help us — and may Nigeria heal.”