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The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called for legislation compelling public officeholders to seek medical treatment in Nigerian government hospitals, proposing sanctions for those who misuse public resources on overseas medical tourism.
The proposal was contained in a statement on Thursday, in which the doctors’ union also rejected a proposed amendment to the National Health Act that seeks to impose a six-month jail term or a fine of up to 300,000 naira on healthcare professionals for delays in emergency medical treatment.
NARD argued that those entrusted with funding and overseeing the country’s hospitals must demonstrate confidence in the same healthcare system they expect ordinary Nigerians to depend on.
“Those entrusted with funding and overseeing our hospitals must demonstrate confidence in the same healthcare system they expect ordinary Nigerians to depend upon,” NARD said.
“The persistent preference for overseas medical treatment among sections of the political elite raises legitimate questions about the commitment to strengthening public healthcare institutions.”
The association proposed that if legislators are genuinely concerned about preventable deaths, they should first consider binding public officials to domestic healthcare.
“A National Assembly genuinely concerned about preventable deaths must prioritise effective legislative oversight and hold the appropriate authorities accountable for failures in hospital funding, infrastructure and service delivery,” NARD stated.
The doctors argued that introducing additional criminal penalties against already overstretched professionals would accelerate the country’s medical brain drain, commonly known as the Japa syndrome.
“At a time when Nigeria is struggling to retain its skilled medical workforce, creating an increasingly hostile and punitive working environment risks driving more doctors and nurses out of the country,” it said.
NARD acknowledged that the proposed bill contains provisions recognising resource limitations and circumstances beyond the control of healthcare practitioners.
However, the association insisted that such safeguards must be explicit and enforceable, ensuring doctors are never criminally punished for institutional failures or unavailable equipment.
The doctors called for the withdrawal and fundamental reconsideration of the punitive provisions, urging meaningful consultation with healthcare associations, hospital administrators, and patient representatives.
“Let it be clearly understood that NARD will not stand idly by while doctors are made scapegoats for decades of neglect of Nigeria’s healthcare system,” the association warned.
They threatened to convene decision-making organs to consider all lawful options, including nationwide industrial action, if the National Assembly proceeds with the legislation.
“The responsibility for fixing Nigeria’s healthcare system cannot be transferred from government to doctors through the threat of imprisonment,” NARD said, demanding that the government fund hospitals, equip facilities, employ more health workers, and provide constant electricity.
