NMA Raises Alarm Over Doctors’ Welfare, Warns Nigeria’s Health System Could Suffer

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has warned that compromising the welfare of doctors could further weaken Nigeria’s healthcare system, with the association calling for stronger government support for medical professionals.

The NMA FCT Chapter Chairman, Dr George Ebong, made the call on Wednesday at the 2026 NMA National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

Ebong said governments at all levels must treat doctors’ welfare as a priority to enable them to provide effective medical services and continue saving lives under better working conditions.

“The welfare of doctors cannot be compromised to save the medical profession. It is an anomaly,” he said.

He added that the NMA FCT chapter expected the NEC meeting to produce practical discussions and resolutions capable of addressing challenges affecting the medical profession and healthcare delivery across the country.

The NMA National President, Prof. Afekhide-Ernest Omoti, also called on doctors to embrace accountability in the discharge of their professional responsibilities. He said the association could not demand transparency and accountability from government, employers and healthcare institutions while failing to apply the same standards within its own ranks.

“The NMA cannot demand accountability from the government, employers and healthcare institutions while refusing to practise accountability within our own association,” Omoti said.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Kamil Shoretire, who delivered a keynote address at the meeting, highlighted the growing challenge of healthcare worker migration, popularly known as the “Japa” syndrome.

Shoretire said the Federal Government needed the continued cooperation of doctors as it works to tackle the loss of medical professionals to other countries. He noted that many Nigerian doctors and nurses had already left the country in search of better opportunities.

He also stressed the need for government and medical professionals to work together to improve conditions in the sector, as Nigeria continues to face pressure from the migration of skilled healthcare workers.