Tertiary Health Chiefs Demand Recognition Amid Staff Exodus, Funding Crunch

By Linda Ike

Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) of Nigeria’s Federal Tertiary Health Institutions have called on the National Assembly to acknowledge their vital role, while battling severe staff shortages, paltry research funding, and operational woes.

Speaking at Tuesday’s House Committee on Health Institutions sessions for Federal University Teaching Hospitals, Federal Teaching Hospitals, and Federal Medical Centres, Jos University Teaching Hospital CMD, Prof. Pokop Wushipba Bupwatda voiced the CMDs’ plea.

He revealed research gets just 1% of budgets often slashed in negotiations stifling medical innovation.

Prof. Bupwatda flagged critical doctor deficits, worsened by the “japa syndrome” as few apply even when recruitment is approved.

Despite this, staff deliver quality care under strain, he praised, while slamming erratic power forcing Band A tariff hospitals to burn costly generators for vital equipment.
Only 30% of 2025 budgets released so far hampers operations, despite House boosts.

He hailed solar mini-grid proposals as relief and sought take-off grants for seven new federal health facilities to kickstart services.

Lawmakers Blast Research Neglect
Committee Chairman, Dr. Patrick Umoh expressed dismay that teaching hospitals act as glorified general wards, not innovation hubs.

“You never fight for research funds, obsessing over infrastructure instead, you’re part of the problem,” he charged, citing COVID-19’s exposure of Nigeria’s weak research muscle.

Umoh’s push spotlights the urgent need for research revival, better funding, and public props for CMDs navigating these tough tides in tertiary health.