Abuja: Prof. Taiwo Adebayo, an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, has called for increased financing of Nigeria’s health sector to reduce medical tourism and improve access to quality healthcare. Adebayo made the call on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering the inaugural lecture in honour of Maj.-Gen. Obashina Ogunbiyi, organised by the Intensive and Critical Care Society of Nigeria (I-CCSN).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Adebayo emphasized the urgent need for revitalization of the country’s critical care units to effectively respond to medical emergencies. He expressed concern over the pressure on Nigeria’s healthcare system despite the rising healthcare demands of the population. Adebayo stated, “We have sick people seeking care from a sick healthcare system. We need to improve healthcare financing, and government must invest more in healthcare infrastructure. Government must also address the factors driving Nigerians abroad for medical treatment and encouraging healthcare professionals to leave the country.”
Adebayo highlighted the necessity of expanding oxygen access beyond federal tertiary hospitals to primary and secondary healthcare facilities, where the majority of Nigerians receive treatment. He warned that without improved oxygen access at these levels, more people would continue to die in local communities. He advocated for critical care to be regarded as an essential health service, covered by the National Health Insurance to prevent delays in treatment due to cost.
He also urged for increased intensive care unit (ICU) bed capacity across the nation and greater investment in training personnel to manage oxygen systems and critical care facilities. Adebayo commended Ogunbiyi, a Professor of Public Health and member of I-CCSN, for his contributions to public health development in Nigeria.
Dr Salma Anas-Ibrahim, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Health, affirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the health sector and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). She acknowledged the government’s significant progress but admitted that more efforts were necessary to reach its healthcare goals. According to her, the government has initiated the installation and rehabilitation of oxygen plants in major hospitals nationwide as part of efforts to improve critical care services.
In his remarks, Ogunbiyi reflected on his passion for medicine, which began in childhood, and encouraged young doctors to pursue their careers with commitment, resilience, and empathy. He urged them not to be motivated solely by financial rewards but to maintain compassion, which he described as the hallmark of the medical profession. Ogunbiyi also praised the Federal Government for increasing budgetary attention to the health sector, noting that recent investments reflected a greater commitment to the principles of the Abuja Declaration.