Reviving Nigeria’s Ailing Health Sector: A Call to Action
By Temitope Oladipo
Nigeria‘s healthcare sector continues to grapple with deep-rooted challenges, many of which are tied to government inefficiencies. From a mass exodus of healthcare professionals, commonly referred to as brain drain, to chronic underfunding, dilapidated infrastructure, frequent industrial actions, and poor staff remuneration, the problems are both complex and persistent.
Yet, the health sector is too critical to be treated with such neglect. It is the backbone of a functioning society, and its failure translates into widespread human suffering. When a government underinvests in healthcare, the consequences are dire for its citizens, leaving millions vulnerable and without access to quality medical services.
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Recent revelations shed further light on the sector’s dire state. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria loses an estimated $1.2 billion annually to medical tourism. This staggering amount reflects both the fragility of the country’s healthcare infrastructure and the lack of trust citizens have in it. Epidemics, pandemics, and ongoing systemic stressors like underfunding and recurring strikes have only made the situation worse.
Interestingly, this WHO statistic aligns with comments made by Femi Adesina, former media adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, who once admitted that Buhari may not have survived his health crisis had he depended solely on local hospitals. Instead, the former president sought care abroad—a decision that mirrored a broader reality: Nigeria’s elites often avoid the very healthcare system they are charged with improving.
A deeper dive into Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) records reveals an even grimmer picture. Throughout Buhari’s eight-year presidency, Nigerians spent approximately $29.29 billion on foreign medical care—an average of $3.6 billion annually. These figures reflect a pattern of sustained capital flight and underscore the country’s heavy reliance on international healthcare services, even amid national economic instability.
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This drain of resources could serve a better purpose. Redirecting even a portion of that $1.2 billion annually toward strengthening local healthcare—starting with improved salaries and working conditions for medical workers—could mark a turning point. Better pay and incentives would help retain Nigerian doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, many of whom are currently lured abroad by more promising prospects.
There was a time when Nigeria’s government hospitals were a source of pride—well-equipped, professionally managed, and comparable to global standards. Today, however, many of these institutions are shadows of their former selves, plagued by outdated equipment, decaying infrastructure, and poor administration. Meanwhile, top government officials routinely fly out for medical treatment, leaving the average Nigerian to rely on struggling public hospitals.
Now, the situation is reaching a critical point. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has issued a warning: if urgent government intervention doesn’t come before July 23, medical professionals nationwide will down tools. The looming strike threatens to further cripple the sector—and as always, it is the ordinary citizens who will suffer the most.
How much longer will Nigeria continue to haemorrhage billions into foreign health systems while its collapses? Isn’t it time we changed direction? By investing these resources in our hospitals—upgrading equipment, improving management, and paying our health workers what they deserve—we can begin to rebuild a system that serves everyone.
Let’s act now—not just for ourselves, but for the generations coming after us.
Do it for Nigeria.
Do it for the future.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Temitope Oladipo is a broadcast journalist, public affairs analyst, and social commentator.