The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners has urged the Nigerian government to implement urgent reforms to address the country’s struggling healthcare system. In a statement from its National Executive Council, the association emphasized the need for a motivated medical workforce, citing its importance to national progress. While brain drain remains a pressing issue, the council highlighted broader challenges that threaten industrial harmony in the health sector, including insecurity, unsustainable workloads, and burnout.
National President Dr. Anas Idris acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to tackle insecurity, noting that a secure environment is foundational to a thriving healthcare system. Nevertheless, the association called on the president to intensify measures to protect the entire nation from all forms of attack and insecurity. It demanded the immediate implementation of a revised salary scale and retention allowances for doctors to boost morale and curb migration, as well as the swift resolution of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which it described as critical to restoring trust and stability in the sector. Additional demands included comprehensive insurance coverage for doctors to shield them from rising occupational hazards such as insecurity and workplace violence.
Dr. Idris explained that restoring security is central to reversing the medical brain drain, stabilizing healthcare delivery, and enabling doctors to work in a safe nation. The association stressed that a functional and motivated medical workforce is indispensable to national development and that resolving the Collective Bargaining Agreement is a crucial step toward restoring confidence in the health sector.
Nigeria’s health sector continues to face persistent challenges, including a shortage of health workers due to poor remuneration, underfunding, and inadequate infrastructure. Despite ongoing government reform efforts, the sector grapples with a severe brain drain of medical professionals, which adversely affects health outcomes.
The association remains open to partnership, dialogue, and collaboration with stakeholders to achieve a sustainable, equitable, and resilient health system for all Nigerians. It reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the welfare and professional growth of government‑employed doctors and to working with partners to build a resilient health system. The calls for reform come as the country’s healthcare system confronts significant challenges, underscoring the need for urgent action to ensure a functional and motivated medical workforce.
Comments are closed for this story.