The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Branch, has called on the Federal and State Governments to convene an urgent health sector summit to address the challenges in the country’s healthcare system and improve the welfare of medical professionals.

Speaking during a press briefing on Monday in Lagos as part of activities marking the 2025 Physicians’ Week, the Chairman, Dr Babajide Saheed, said the annual celebration provides an opportunity to reflect on the state of healthcare delivery in Lagos and Nigeria as a whole and to develop sustainable solutions.

Saheed said, “This annual celebration brings together medical professionals, policymakers, regulators, and partners to reflect on the state of healthcare delivery in Lagos and in Nigeria as a whole, and to chart sustainable paths for improvement.”

He explained that the theme for this year’s Physicians’ Week, “Healthcare as a Value Chain: Building Efficiency from Policy to Patient,” highlights the need to strengthen every link in the healthcare delivery process.

“The healthcare value chain connects all the processes that create value for patients, providers, and policymakers. Yet, we continue to experience inefficiencies at almost every level, from policy formulation to patient care,” he said.

He listed key challenges affecting the system, including “persistent brain drain and poor welfare of healthcare workers, heavy dependence on imported drugs and medical supplies, inadequate funding which remains below the Abuja Declaration target of 15 percent, low health insurance coverage, weak infrastructure, and poorly equipped primary healthcare centres.”

Saheed added, “To address these challenges, we need strong political will, sustainable health financing, local drug manufacturing, continuous training for health professionals, and policies that reward performance and retention.”

He called on both the Federal and State Governments to take immediate steps to reposition the healthcare sector.

According to him, “We urge the federal and state governments to convene urgent health sector summits to review and align existing policies, improve remuneration and working conditions for doctors and other healthcare workers, ensure full payment of outstanding skipping arrears, and provide call-duty meals in tertiary hospitals.”

He also appealed to the Lagos State Government to “review the 2006 Lagos State Health Sector Reform Law to meet current realities, implement structured two-term tenures for Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors to enhance leadership stability, protect salary relativity, and reverse the recent pay reduction for Lagos doctors.”

“This is about fairness. Our doctors deserve to be well remunerated, motivated, and protected. A demoralised healthcare workforce will only worsen health outcomes for Nigerians,” he said.