Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, has expressed deep concern regarding the myriad challenges afflicting Nigeria’s healthcare sector. He voiced his apprehensions during the opening ceremony of the 13th Biennial Delegates Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association, held in Kano.
Represented by Professor Abdurrahman Sheshe, the Chief Medical Director of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, the minister highlighted several issues plaguing the health sector, including inadequate funding, a significant brain drain, a lack of modern facilities, outdated equipment, and a shortage of personnel, particularly in rural areas.
He underscored the commitment of the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rectify these challenges and fortify the health sector, recognizing that these problems have significantly contributed to maternal and child mortality rates.
The minister also conveyed the government’s eagerness to collaborate with entities, including the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), to address these issues. He affirmed that his doors are always open to valuable advice and suggestions.
Professor Victor Makanjuola, President of MDCAN, emphasized the urgent need to halt the emigration of medical consultants from Nigeria to other nations in search of better opportunities. He stressed the importance of candid discussions and swift innovation to tackle these challenges.
The theme of this year’s conference, “Medical Education in Nigeria at Cross Roads: Challenges of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Medical Education and Way Forward,” was deemed highly significant and timely by Makanjuola. MDCAN noted that the conference aimed to examine new developments in the medical profession, evaluate existing practices, and showcase innovations within the healthcare and medical education sector.
