The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), has called for improved doctors’ welfare to sustain the healthcare system and curb the rising trend of “japa” syndrome.

Benjamin Uyi, ARD president, made the call during the association’s 2025 ordinary general meeting and scientific conference on Wednesday in Lagos.

The conference’s theme was ‘Healthcare Services in Nigeria: The Efficiency, Welfare Motivations and Staff Wellness.’

Mr Uyi said that the welfare of healthcare workers, particularly resident doctors, had been neglected. He urged the federal government to prioritise doctors’ welfare.

He stressed that resident doctors should be placed on a better healthcare plan to help mitigate the effects of “japa” syndrome.

According to him, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cannot provide adequate health benefits for doctors and other healthcare workers.

Mr Uyi identified poor welfare as the primary reason doctors were leaving Nigeria. He called on the government to adopt a holistic approach to resolving the issue.

He acknowledged the ongoing infrastructural improvements in healthcare under President Bola Tinubu’s administration but noted that staff welfare remained neglected.

“For these facilities to function optimally, healthcare workers must be motivated, and their well-being should be prioritised,” he said.

Citing the National Health Act 2014, Mr Uyi criticised placing doctors under the NHIS minimum healthcare package, given the current doctor shortage and burnout.

“The NHIS cannot meet doctors’ healthcare needs. We are advocating for a better healthcare plan for doctors,” he added.

Also, Olalekan Olatise, medical director of Zenith Medical & Kidney Centre, called for adequate healthcare funding to ensure efficiency.

Represented by Odeyemi Ayola, a consultant nephrologist, Mr Olatise decried chronic underfunding in the health sector, which has negatively impacted its performance.

He urged the government to revisit the 2014 Abuja Declaration, which recommended allocating 15 per cent of the national budget to healthcare.

Citing WHO recommendations, he said that while one doctor should serve 600 patients, Nigeria’s ratio is one doctor to over 5,000 patients due to “japa” syndrome.

If the trend continues, he warned, hospitals may soon lack doctors to attend to patients, worsening the country’s healthcare crisis.

Addressing doctors, Mr Olatise urged them to uphold their responsibility to Nigeria in spite of their challenges.

“While we push for better welfare and the government works on our demands, we must also remain committed to serving Nigeria,” he said.

Oluwole Ayodeji, chairman of the Medical Advisory Council (CMAC), LUTH, reaffirmed the hospital management’s commitment to staff welfare.

He assured that management would continue implementing policies to improve resident doctors’ welfare and working conditions.

(NAN)