Resident doctors accused of ignoring government failures in healthcare services

DDM News

A leading medical expert has charged resident doctors to play a more active role in holding Nigerian governments accountable for healthcare expenditures and outcomes.

In a weekend address in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Philip Ugbodaga, a maxillofacial traumatologist and Medical Director of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Benin City, issued this call during the Ordinary General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the meeting, which attracted healthcare professionals nationwide, was themed “The Medical Profession: Policies, Politics and Future Prospects.”

Dr. Ugbodaga highlighted the significant financial commitment made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration toward the health sector in recent years.

He emphasized that with a proposed ₦1.502 trillion health sector budget for 2024 and a groundbreaking ₦2.48 trillion for 2025, Nigeria is witnessing its most ambitious public health funding in history.

He stressed that these investments aim to revamp Primary Health Centres (PHCs), broaden health insurance access, enhance health security, and upgrade infrastructure.

According to him, the funds, if properly managed, can transform the health system to be more equitable and efficient.

He stated, “As the most vibrant arm of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), you must ensure that government agencies and hospital leadership at federal, state, and local levels are accountable.”

He referred to a pivotal moment in December 2023, when President Tinubu declared that healthcare had returned to the front burner of national policy priorities.

This declaration, he said, marked the beginning of the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Dr. Ugbodaga described the initiative as a bold plan to reconstruct Nigeria’s health system into one that is inclusive, resilient, and functional.

He added that a close analysis of the 2025 federal health budget reveals the government’s strategic approach to use healthcare spending as a tool for national development.

The wellbeing of Nigerians, he stressed, is a cornerstone for broader social and economic advancement.

He warned, however, that without continuous oversight, these gains could be lost to inefficiency or mismanagement.

“The lives of ordinary Nigerians, especially women and children, are at stake,” he said.

He emphasized that safeguarding these vulnerable groups requires unwavering dedication from all healthcare professionals.

He urged resident doctors not to retreat in the face of mounting challenges within the health sector.

Instead, he encouraged them to adopt a collaborative spirit with other professionals and institutions to achieve sustainable improvements.

Dr. Ugbodaga called for unity among medical practitioners, especially in engaging constructively with the leadership of federal tertiary hospitals.

He noted that genuine cooperation across disciplines and institutions could lead to a transformed healthcare environment for all Nigerians.

The Nigerian health sector has long been plagued by infrastructural decay, limited access, and frequent strikes caused by underfunding and poor conditions for medical workers.

Despite successive administrations pledging reform, progress has often been slow and uneven across regions.

The Renewed Hope Agenda, however, is being presented as a fresh attempt at holistic reform.

With the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative now in motion, analysts say successful implementation will depend largely on transparency and citizen oversight.

Dr. Ugbodaga’s appeal to NARD reflects a growing consensus among health experts that sectoral reform cannot be achieved through government action alone.

Civil society, unions, and professionals must play their part in ensuring fiscal discipline and prioritization of public interest.

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), as one of the most vocal and influential unions in the health sector, has been pivotal in past advocacy for improved working conditions and funding.

Its engagement, or lack thereof, could significantly shape how the Tinubu administration’s ambitious healthcare plans unfold.

As the meeting in Uyo continues, it is expected that NARD leadership will deliberate on strategies to respond to Dr. Ugbodaga’s challenge.

They are also likely to review how best to partner with government institutions while still asserting their watchdog role.

Observers note that a proactive and united medical community is vital if Nigeria is to escape the cycle of poor health outcomes and chronic underinvestment in public health.

Dr. Ugbodaga concluded his remarks with a call to action: “We owe it to the poorest among us to fight for a healthcare system that works for all.”

He reiterated that collaboration, accountability, and resilience are the pillars upon which a better future for Nigerian healthcare must rest.

The NARD event continues with discussions expected to cover policies affecting residency training, political influence on health governance, and future prospects for young doctors.

Meanwhile, stakeholders within and outside the country will be watching to see if the promises of record-breaking budgets will translate into real benefits for everyday Nigerians.

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