Tinubu Reveals Major Healthcare Reforms As Over 30,000 Health Workers Are Recruited

President Bola Tinubu has pledged to intensify efforts to address the migration of Nigerian medical professionals abroad, popularly known as “Japa,” while creating better conditions to encourage healthcare workers to return home and contribute to the country’s health sector.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the President made the commitment on Monday in Abuja through the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, during the opening and induction ceremony of the 50th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the West African College of Physicians, which marked the institution’s golden jubilee.

Tinubu acknowledged the challenges posed by the departure of skilled medical professionals and said his administration was committed to reducing the trend and encouraging more healthcare workers to serve in Nigeria and across the West African region.

He explained that the government had prioritised the recruitment, training, retention and welfare of healthcare personnel as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s health system.

The President disclosed that more than 30,000 health professionals had been recruited into federal health facilities within the past two and a half years. He added that the government had also trained thousands of frontline health workers and doubled admission quotas for medical education to address the growing demand for qualified personnel.

Tinubu further stated that his administration was implementing reforms aimed at improving healthcare infrastructure, expanding health insurance coverage and strengthening primary healthcare services across the country.

He maintained that access to quality healthcare should not be limited to a privileged few, stressing that every Nigerian deserved access to essential medical services.

According to the President, the government had invested in the construction, rehabilitation and equipping of health facilities, while initiatives to modernise tertiary hospitals and revitalise primary healthcare centres were ongoing.

He also highlighted efforts to improve funding for primary healthcare facilities through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, saying the initiative was intended to strengthen service delivery and improve access to essential medical care.

Tinubu added that the government was adopting digital technology to improve patient records, disease surveillance and data-driven decision-making within the healthcare system.

The administration’s latest commitments form part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s health workforce and infrastructure, although the success of the plans will depend on their implementation and whether improved working conditions and opportunities can persuade more medical professionals to remain in or return to the country.