The Medical Director of Insignia Health, Dr. Olumuyiwa Olusanya, has called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s Primary Healthcare (PHC) system, emphasising that strengthening the foundation of healthcare delivery is crucial to fixing the nation’s overburdened tertiary care.
Speaking at the 2025 Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State Physicians’ Week Scientific Conference in Ibadan, Olusanya urged both federal and state governments to equip existing PHC centers and better integrate private and general practitioners into the healthcare value chain.
The conference, themed: “Healthcare as a Value Chain: Building Efficiency from Policy to Patient,” drew medical professionals and policymakers together to examine how coordinated health policy, infrastructure, and innovation could transform Nigeria’s healthcare delivery.
“We must start from the base. Once we get it right at the primary healthcare level, the entire healthcare system will be repositioned. Tertiary hospitals are overwhelmed because patients don’t receive adequate care at the grassroots,” he said.
Dr. Olusanya advocated increased investment in healthcare infrastructure, stressing that government teaching hospitals like the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan should be optimized rather than merely expanding infrastructure.
Olusanya also proposed the creation of a national health exchange platform, a centralised digital repository for patient records and data, to enhance coordination, improve care delivery, and protect patient information. “It would be a critical national asset, allowing the Ministry of Health and other agencies to operate more efficiently,” he noted.
On funding, he suggested earmarking a percentage of Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue for national health insurance, allowing Nigerians to indirectly contribute to the health system through taxation. “Once people are under the health insurance net, it will better their lots,” he added.
One of the guest speaker, Consultant Neurologist at the University College Hospital [UCH], and founder of Online Health Company [Ohealth], Dr. Temitope Farombi, emphasised the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare but cautioned that it must be applied ethically and with professional oversight.
Farombi, spoke on the theme: “Artificial Intelligence, Ethics and the Physicians’ Roles in Modern Healthcare,” said AI has the potential to transform diagnostics, treatment planning, and resource allocation. However, she stressed that physicians remain central to care delivery.
“AI can analyse data but not emotions. Patients trust doctors, not machines. Compassion, ethical judgment, and listening cannot be replaced by algorithms,” she stated.
Farombi warned of potential misuse, urging doctors to receive proper training and ensure AI tools are thoroughly tested to avoid errors and ensure equitable access. She also emphasized safeguarding patient data and privacy as AI becomes more prevalent in the healthcare space.
The Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Abiodun Ilesanmi, a former Chief Medical Director of UCH, described the medical profession as both “unique and divine,” reminding practitioners to view their roles as a sacred duty to humanity and to God.
Earlier, the NMA Chairman in Oyo State, Dr. Happy Adedapo, said this year’s conference theme was chosen to reflect the evolving nature of medicine and the need for collaborative, efficient approaches to care.
The event concluded with an awards ceremony recognising distinguished contributors to the sector. Honorees included Dr. Olumuyiwa Olusanya, Prof. Abiodun Ilesanmi, and Dr. Temitope Farombi for their leadership and dedication to healthcare improvement in Nigeria.
