Lagos: The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kwara Chapter, has emphasized the importance of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a complementary tool to human intelligence in the medical field, rather than a replacement. This statement was made by Prof. Abdulrahman Afolabi, Chairman of NMA-Kwara, during a news conference held as part of the 2025 Physicians’ Week celebrations.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the theme for this year’s Physicians’ Week is ‘Healthcare as a Value Chain: Building Efficiency from Policy to Patient’, with a sub-theme focusing on ‘AI, Ethics and the Physicians’ Role in Modern Healthcare’. Prof. Afolabi, represented by Dr Ayinde Musa, Acting Chairman of NMA, stressed that no algorithm can replicate the compassion, moral reasoning, and trust that define the physician-patient relationship. He urged physicians to be proactive in shaping the technological transformation in healthcare, ensuring that technology serves humanity.
Afolabi further elaborated that healthcare delivery begins with policy formulation and extends through various stages including resource allocation, infrastructure development, and patient outcomes. He highlighted the vulnerabilities in the system, such as poor policy implementation, inadequate funding, and workforce shortages, which can weaken the entire healthcare chain.
He also pointed out the persistent challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system, including insufficient health financing, inconsistent policies, and a shortage of healthcare professionals. Afolabi advocated for a system-thinking approach that aligns policy and practice with patient-centred outcomes to build efficiency in healthcare.
Moreover, Afolabi called on policymakers to engage with practitioners and encouraged association members to uphold high standards and ethics. He emphasized that patients must have equitable access to quality care, noting that efficiency in healthcare is about delivering the right care at the right time with the right resources.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that activities for the 2025 Physicians’ Week include visits to orphanages and educational sessions for young children about the medical field, under the initiative ‘Young Doctors Day’.