By Atoyebi Nike
A bill currently under consideration in the House of Representatives has sparked widespread reactions, following its proposal to bar public and civil servants from accessing private hospitals or seeking medical care outside Nigeria. The bill, which also extends to public officials’ immediate families, aims to compel them to rely solely on public healthcare institutions.
Sponsored by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State, the “Private Institutions and Health Care Service Providers (Prohibition) Bill, 2025” passed first reading on the House floor on Tuesday. Ogah described the bill as a “turning point” meant to restore confidence in public health institutions and eliminate conflicts of interest in public service delivery.
Health sector stakeholders, however, are expressing mixed reactions. While some applaud the bill’s intentions, many argue that it is likely to fail without deep reforms, adequate funding, and political will.
Speaking to The North Journals, Professor Aminu Mohammad, President of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), said the spirit behind the bill is commendable. He noted that Nigeria has the human resource capacity to handle complex medical cases but warned that poor infrastructure, underfunding, and frequent strikes have weakened the system.
“Between 2015 and 2023, Nigerians spent over $29 billion on medical tourism,” Mohammad noted. “Meanwhile, the 2024 federal health budget stood at just N1.336 trillion. This reflects our misplaced priorities.”
He stressed that implementation must be accompanied by comprehensive reforms or risk being symbolic. He also warned of social backlash if elites receive preferential treatment in public hospitals.
Dr. Chimezie Okwuonu, Chief Medical Director of Abia State Specialist Hospital and the South-East’s first transplant nephrologist, shared similar concerns. He praised the bill’s potential to redirect focus to public health delivery but questioned its legal foundation.
“Healthcare access is a human right. Citizens cannot be forced to receive care in specific facilities,” he said. “The law is unenforceable, but the government can incentivise use of public hospitals by improving their quality.”
Okwuonu cautioned against healthcare segregation, where elites might receive privileged treatment within public hospitals, further undermining equity.
He added that while Nigerian hospitals can manage complex conditions such as organ transplants and brain surgery, systemic barriers like inadequate remuneration, insecurity, and poor training opportunities continue to limit public health institutions.
Dr. Kunle Ashimi, former Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Ogun State, also criticised the bill as a violation of constitutional rights. “You cannot deny anyone the freedom to choose their healthcare provider. What the law can do is prevent the misuse of public funds for foreign medical trips,” he said.
He called for a public-private healthcare model driven by insurance coverage. “Health tourism is not always about quality. Sometimes it’s about cost, convenience, or combining treatment with leisure. Even Nigerians abroad return home for private care,” Ashimi noted.
He described public hospitals as disjointed and inefficient due to poor governance, fragmented operations, and frequent labour disputes factors absent in most private facilities.
Echoing these views, Dr. Olumide Obube, Vice Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria in Ogun State, warned that the bill may only exist on paper if not supported by a genuine political commitment to revamp public healthcare infrastructure.
“Enforcement mechanisms are unclear. Exceptions for emergencies or diplomatic cover could easily be exploited,” he said. However, he acknowledged that requiring public officials to use the same health services as ordinary citizens might pressure government into long-overdue reforms.
In conclusion, while the bill seeks to address critical inequalities and restore faith in public institutions, its success will hinge on the government’s readiness to commit resources, ensure equity, and close loopholes that allow for elite privilege and systemic failure.
