Nigeria: Doctors Demand Public Ranking of Governors on Healthcare Performance

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Medical doctors in Nigeria have called for the public ranking of governors and states based on health outcomes, saying such a system would promote accountability and encourage greater investment in healthcare delivery. The physicians argued that assessing state governments using indicators such as maternal and child mortality, immunisation coverage, primary healthcare performance and disease control would provide a clearer picture of their commitment to improving citizens’ health. They noted that making the rankings public could foster healthy competition among states and drive evidence-based policymaking.

Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise, the President of the Nigeria Medical Association, Prof. Afekhide Omoti, said healthcare failure should not primarily be that of the Federal Government alone. He said the country must strengthen the state and local governments’ responsibility in financing healthcare. “Healthcare failure is not only a federal problem. Many primary healthcare centres are under the state and local governments, but remain abandoned,” he said. “States should match federal healthcare interventions, local governments should begin publishing PHC spending reports, governors should be assessed publicly on health outcomes, while federal allocations for health should be tied to measurable performance. Nigeria cannot centralise all blame in Abuja while states neglect frontline healthcare,” he said.

The NMA president also said that the government should enforce full and timely budget releases to the healthcare sector. “One major problem is that ministries and hospitals receive partial releases long after budgets are passed. We have observed that the problem is no longer only about budget allocation; it is now fundamentally about budget credibility, release efficiency, and accountability,” he said. According to him, the government must move from symbolic budgeting to enforceable health financing reforms.

“Critical healthcare funding should be treated like debt servicing and national security obligations. This means that certain health expenditures, especially primary healthcare, immunization, emergency response, and salaries, should receive automatic statutory releases,” he said. He said that releases for healthcare funding should not depend on political discretion or quarterly cash-flow politics. “Healthcare cannot remain the first victim whenever revenue falls short,” he said.

The NMA president said Nigeria’s heavy reliance on oil revenues to fund public services has made healthcare financing unstable. He called for increased diversification of health financing through increased domestic resource mobilisation and expanded health insurance coverage, among others.

But speaking on what the country can do, the NMA president said Nigeria can expand health financing beyond oil revenue. He listed public-private partnerships, diaspora health investment bonds, among others, to support revenue from oil in financing healthcare in Nigeria.

“Depending heavily on oil revenues makes health financing unstable. Nigeria should diversify health funding through expanded health insurance contributions, sin taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks dedicated specifically to health, public-private partnerships, diaspora health investment bonds, among others, to support revenue from oil in financing healthcare in Nigeria,” he said.

The President of the Nigeria Medical Association, Prof. Afekhide Omoti, is a renowned expert in healthcare financing and policy reform. He has written extensively on the importance of transparency and accountability in healthcare delivery. In 2018, he was appointed as the President of the Nigeria Medical Association, a position he has held since then.

Prof. Omoti has been a vocal critic of the government’s handling of healthcare financing, saying that the current system is unsustainable and requires urgent reform. He has called for increased investment in primary healthcare, improved health insurance coverage, and increased transparency in healthcare funding.

Prof. Omoti’s recommendations are backed by data from the World Health Organization, which shows that Nigeria has one of the worst healthcare outcomes in the world. According to the WHO, Nigeria has a maternal mortality rate of 814 deaths per 100,000 live births, and a child mortality rate of 74 deaths per 1,000 live births.

The Nigeria Medical Association has been at the forefront of advocating for improved healthcare financing and delivery in the country. The association has called for increased investment in primary healthcare, improved health insurance coverage, and increased transparency in healthcare funding.

The NMA has also been critical of the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that the response has been inadequate and has led to a surge in cases and deaths.

The call by doctors for a public ranking system to assess the performance of governors and states in healthcare delivery has sparked a heated debate in the country. While some have welcomed the idea, others have raised concerns about its implementation and potential impact on the healthcare sector.

Some have argued that the ranking system could lead to a culture of competition among states and governors, which could ultimately benefit the healthcare sector. Others have expressed concerns that the system could be biased and could lead to unfair treatment of certain states and governors.

The debate is set to continue, with the Nigeria Medical Association and other stakeholders pushing for increased investment in healthcare and improved healthcare outcomes. The government has promised to address the concerns of the NMA and other stakeholders, but it remains to be seen what concrete steps will be taken to address the issues.

The ranking system proposed by the NMA would assess states and governors based on health outcomes, including maternal and child mortality rates, immunisation coverage, primary healthcare performance, and disease control. The system would provide a clear picture of the commitment of states and governors to improving health outcomes and would promote healthy competition among them, driving evidence-based policymaking.

Nigeria’s healthcare system has been plagued by neglect and corruption for decades. The country has one of the worst healthcare outcomes in the world, with a maternal mortality rate of 814 deaths per 100,000 live births, and a child mortality rate of 74 deaths per 1,000 live births. The healthcare system is underfunded and understaffed, leading to a shortage of doctors and nurses, and inadequate access to healthcare services.

The situation is further exacerbated by the government’s failure to release funds for healthcare on time, leading to delays in the implementation of healthcare projects and programs. The government has promised to address these issues, but it remains to be seen what concrete steps will be taken.

In the meantime, the NMA and other stakeholders will continue to advocate for increased investment in healthcare and improved healthcare outcomes. The ranking system proposed by the NMA is a step in the right direction, but it is just the beginning. Nigeria’s healthcare system needs a comprehensive overhaul, and it needs it now.

In the words of Prof. Omoti, “Healthcare failure is not only a federal problem. Many primary healthcare centres are under the state and local governments, but remain abandoned. States should match federal healthcare interventions, local governments should begin publishing PHC spending reports, governors should be assessed publicly on health outcomes, while federal allocations for health should be tied to measurable performance.”

“The single most important thing we can do is to strengthen the state and local governments’ responsibility in financing healthcare,” he said.

The Nigeria Medical Association will continue to push for increased investment in healthcare and improved healthcare outcomes. The proposed ranking system is just one of many steps that need to be taken to address the issues plaguing the healthcare sector.

As the debate continues, one thing is clear: Nigeria’s healthcare system needs a comprehensive overhaul. The proposed ranking system is a step in the right direction, but it is just the beginning. Nigeria needs to do more to address the issues plaguing its healthcare sector.

And while the debate continues, the clock is ticking. Nigeria’s healthcare system is in crisis, and it needs urgent attention. The government must act now to address the issues plaguing the sector, and the proposed ranking system is just one of many steps that need to be taken.

Nigeria is at a crossroads. The country can continue down the path of neglect and corruption, or it can take a bold step towards a brighter future. The choice is clear: invest in healthcare and improve healthcare outcomes, or watch the sector continue to crumble.

The time for excuses is over. It’s time for action. And it’s time to prioritize the health and well-being of Nigerians. For their sake, Nigeria must act now.

The Nigeria Medical Association will continue to advocate for increased investment in healthcare and improved healthcare outcomes. The proposed ranking system is just one of many steps that need to be taken to address the issues plaguing the healthcare sector.

As the debate continues, one thing is clear: Nigeria’s healthcare system needs a comprehensive overhaul. The proposed ranking system is a step in the right direction, but it is just the beginning.

Nigeria can do better. Nigeria must do better. The proposed ranking system is a starting point, but it is just the beginning. Nigeria needs to do more to address the issues plaguing its healthcare sector.

The proposed ranking system will provide a clear picture of the commitment of states and governors to improving health outcomes and will promote healthy competition among them, driving evidence-based policymaking.

The ranking system is a step in the right direction, but it is just the beginning. Nigeria needs to do more to address the issues plaguing its healthcare sector.

The clock is ticking. Nigeria’s healthcare system is in crisis, and it needs urgent attention. The government must act now to address the issues plaguing the sector, and the proposed ranking system is just one of many steps that need to be taken.

Nigeria is at a crossroads. The country can continue down the path of neglect and corruption, or it can take a bold step towards a brighter future. The choice is clear: invest in healthcare and improve healthcare outcomes, or watch the sector continue to crumble.

The time for excuses is over. It’s time for action. And it’s time to prioritize the health and well-being of Nigerians. For their sake, Nigeria must act now.

The proposed ranking system will provide a clear picture of the commitment of states and governors to improving health outcomes and will promote healthy competition among them, driving evidence-based policymaking.

Nigeria needs to do more to address the issues plaguing its healthcare sector. The proposed ranking system is a step in the right direction, but it is just the beginning.

Nigeria is at a crossroads. The country can continue down the path of neglect and corruption, or it can take a bold step towards a brighter future. The choice is clear: invest in healthcare and improve healthcare outcomes, or watch the sector continue to crumble.

The clock is ticking. Nigeria’s healthcare system is in crisis, and it needs urgent attention. The government must act now to address the issues plaguing the sector, and the proposed ranking system is just one of many steps that need to be taken.

Nigeria needs to prioritize the health and well-being of its citizens. The proposed ranking system is a step in the right direction, but it is just the beginning.

Nigeria must act now to address the issues plaguing its healthcare sector. The proposed ranking system is just one of many steps that need to be taken.

Nigeria’s healthcare system is in crisis. The country needs to act now to address the issues plaguing the sector.