Healthcare stakeholders have raised concerns over rising cases of medical negligence and the poor state of healthcare facilities in Nigeria, warning that the situation is contributing to preventable deaths across the country.
The stakeholders spoke at the Cure My Nation Initiative conference themed, “Health With Dignity for Every Nigerian: The Role of Government, Communities and Institutions in Safeguarding Patients’ Rights,” which was held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan.
Speaking at the event, Professor of Microbiology and National Women Leader of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Prof. Adenike Ogunshe, described the condition of the nation’s healthcare sector as a reflection of moral decline and governance failure. Ogunshe lamented that many hospitals now lack basic facilities needed to save lives, including oxygen and emergency response equipment. She recounted how her younger sister allegedly died after a hospital refused to attend to her during an emergency situation.
“It is disheartening that healthcare professionals now openly tell families they cannot attend to patients because there is no oxygen or necessary facilities. Why should a place be called a hospital if basic survival tools are unavailable?” she queried.
According to her, Nigeria’s high maternal and child mortality rates were indicators of a collapsing healthcare system and lack of empathy among leaders. She urged government at all levels to prioritise healthcare infrastructure and improve funding for the sector, warning that continued neglect would worsen the suffering of ordinary Nigerians. Ogunshe also challenged the media to embrace investigative journalism and expose irregularities within the healthcare system instead of focusing mainly on politics.
Also speaking, the Team Lead of Cure My Nation Initiative, Mr. Mashood Adewale, said ignorance of patients’ rights remained one of the major reasons many Nigerians continued to suffer abuse and negligence in hospitals. Adewale, who founded the initiative after allegedly losing his mother to a drug overdose in 2010, said the introduction of the Patient’s Bill of Rights had begun to improve accountability within the healthcare system.
“Healthcare providers now know that citizens are becoming more aware and are monitoring their activities,” he said. He disclosed that the organisation had launched a digital application to enable Nigerians report cases of medical negligence and monitor the progress of their complaints.
The stakeholders also criticised the country’s democratic culture, accusing politicians of exploiting poverty to manipulate voters during elections. Ogunshe urged Nigerians to stop exchanging their future for temporary material benefits during election periods, insisting that citizens must hold leaders accountable.
Also speaking, the Oyo State Director of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Mr. Olawale Akinyosoye, reiterated government’s commitment to protecting the rights of citizens. He urged Nigerians to report cases of rights violations and medical infractions through the commission’s complaint channels.
