The Medical Director of Insignia Health, Dr. Olumuyiwa Olusanya, has emphasized the need to build a strong and well-equipped Primary Healthcare (PHC) system to ensure efficient healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Olusanya made the remark on Tuesday at the 2025 Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State Physicians’ Week Scientific Conference held in Ibadan.
Speaking on the theme “Healthcare as a Value Chain: Building Efficiency from Policy to Patient,” he stressed the importance of integrating private and general practitioners into the PHC system and providing them with financial support.
“Once we get it right from the primary healthcare sector, we will reposition the entire healthcare system,” he said.
“The tertiary healthcare system is overcrowded because people are not getting adequate access at the primary level. The government should ensure that existing teaching hospitals such as UCH are properly equipped rather than building new ones.”
Olusanya called on the government to create an enabling environment for doctors and to invest heavily in the health sector, as seen in developed countries, to curb the growing trend of brain drain.
He also recommended incentives such as cars and free housing for doctors working in rural areas to motivate them and reduce rural-urban disparities in healthcare access.
The medical expert further advocated for the creation of a National Health Exchange Platform where health records, data, and information could be securely shared among relevant agencies.
“It will be a critical national asset if the Federal Ministry of Health and other government agencies operate smarter and more efficiently,” he said.
Olusanya proposed that a percentage of government tax revenue be channeled into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to ensure universal health coverage.
“The best way to fund social health insurance is through direct and indirect taxes. A percentage of VAT can be used to provide health insurance for every Nigerian,” he said.
“Once people are under the health insurance net, it will improve their well-being.”
In his remarks, Prof. Abiodun Ilesanmi, former Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, described the medical profession as unique and divine.
“Medical practitioners should see the profession as sacred and view their duty as a response to God’s call,” he said.
Earlier, the Oyo State NMA Chairman, Dr. Happy Adedapo, said the theme and sub-theme of the event were carefully chosen to reflect the realities and responsibilities of the medical profession.
He noted that the guest speakers and chairman were “thoroughbred professionals carefully selected to do justice to the topic.”
Highlights of the event included the presentation of awards to Prof. Ilesanmi, Dr. Olusanya, and Dr. Temitope Farombi for their outstanding contributions to the healthcare sector.
