The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has pledged to uphold the highest ethical standards among its members amid growing concerns over quackery, poor regulation, healthcare workforce shortages, migration of medical professionals and declining public trust.
The association made the commitment at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, where its President, Prof Afekhide-Ernest Omoti, urged doctors to take the lead in addressing unethical practices within the profession.
Omoti said doctors must confront internal challenges while also tackling external threats to the healthcare system.
“While we fight external threats, we must also uphold the highest ethical standards within our own profession,” he said.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziak Salako, who delivered the keynote address at the meeting, also called on the NMA to strengthen its efforts against quackery.
Salako stressed the need to rebuild public confidence in the healthcare system and improve service delivery, warning that medical practitioners had a major responsibility for the performance of the sector.
“If the health sector is not working, you cannot blame anybody but the doctor,” he said.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Kamil Shoretire, urged doctors to meet expected standards of professional service, ethical conduct and regulatory compliance.
In a communiqué presented by the NMA Secretary-General, Dr Tamunokuro Diamond, the association called for the immediate implementation of the outstanding Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) reached between the Federal Government and health workers.
The NMA said delays in implementing the agreement were contributing to dissatisfaction among healthcare workers and worsening the migration of professionals from Nigeria.
It therefore called for the inclusion of the outstanding provisions of the CBA in the Federal Government’s 2027 Appropriation Bill.
The association also demanded the implementation of the 65-year retirement age for clinical health workers, saying the policy would help retain experienced personnel at a time when the country is facing critical shortages across the health sector.
The NMA also described the worsening security situation across Nigeria as a major threat to national security and a public health emergency.
The association noted that the healthcare system was facing multiple pressures, including rapid technological advancement, changing disease patterns, shortages of healthcare workers, migration of professionals and growing concerns over patient safety.
According to the communiqué, “Nigeria’s healthcare system is at a crossroads due to rapid tech advancement, changing disease patterns, worker shortages, migration of professionals, and patient safety concerns.”
The association stressed the need for urgent measures to address the challenges and ensure that healthcare professionals can provide safe and effective services.
Meanwhile, the Project Director of the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA), Dr Wale Alabi, and the Medical Director of Krown Hospital and former NMA Secretary-General, Dr Olukayode Akinlade, paid a courtesy visit to Salako at his office in Abuja.
A representative of SHINVA, China, a manufacturer of radiotherapy and other cancer-treatment equipment, also joined the delegation.
The meeting focused on healthcare development, particularly cancer treatment and the deployment of modern medical technologies in Nigeria.
The engagement highlighted the importance of collaboration among government, medical professionals, healthcare institutions and international medical equipment manufacturers in improving healthcare delivery.
The stakeholders also exchanged ideas on strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system and expanding access to modern medical technologies.
The NMA said the meeting was the first ordinary NEC meeting of its new National Executive Council for the year.
