Doctors demand health funding, digital medical training

Medical professionals are demanding that Nigerian governments prioritize sustainable healthcare financing and improve medical training infrastructure, including the adoption of affordable digital technologies. These calls come from the West African College of Physicians (WACP) following their 50th Annual General and Scientific Meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The conference, themed “Building Bridges, Forging Resilience and Partnership in Health,” brought together experts to address challenges in Nigeria’s health sector. Professor Benjamin Uzochukwu, Chairman of the WACP Nigeria Chapter, stated that the resolutions aim to strengthen collaboration among healthcare professionals, government institutions, and communities to build a more resilient health system. The meeting attracted 434 doctors, with discussions focusing on enhancing medical training, using digital tools for patient care, and securing a stronger financial foundation for healthcare.

Participants identified significant gaps within Nigeria’s health system. These include weak connections between medical specialties, laboratories, and clinical services. They also noted issues with policy implementation, the alignment of healthcare training with national needs, and disparities in healthcare delivery between urban and rural areas. The WACP emphasized the urgent need to build bridges across disciplines, between policy and practice, and between urban and rural communities.

To address these issues, the physicians urged governments at all levels to establish sustainable healthcare financing mechanisms. They also called for reliable utilities, adequate manpower, improved infrastructure, better diagnostic services, accessible blood transfusion facilities, and greater health equity. Recommendations for postgraduate medical training institutions include adopting minimum infrastructure standards, promoting multidisciplinary care, offering incentives for rural practice, supporting research, and improving healthcare workforce data systems. The college also advocated for the use of affordable digital tools to enhance postgraduate training and standardize competencies nationwide.

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The college underscores the urgent need to build bridges across medical disciplines, between policy and practice, and between urban and rural communities to strengthen resilience and partnership in health.