The Plateau government says it will prioritise primary healthcare, health workforce development and improved access to quality healthcare in 2027 to strengthen healthcare service delivery across the state.

Nicholas Ba’amlong, Plateau commissioner for health, stated this in Jos on Friday.

Mr Ba’amlong said the just-concluded joint annual health sector review provided a clear roadmap for the ministry’s 2027 priorities after identifying critical gaps in healthcare service delivery.

According to him, the presentations made during the review would be thoroughly analysed to ensure that the identified gaps were addressed and recommendations incorporated into the ministry’s 2027 operational plan.

Mr Ba’amlong said one of the state’s major priorities was the upgrade of the Plateau Specialist Hospital to a teaching hospital to support the training of medical students and strengthen tertiary healthcare services.

The commissioner explained that attaining teaching hospital status required substantial investments in infrastructure, modern medical equipment, skilled human resources and other facilities necessary for clinical training.

He identified inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of healthcare personnel and insufficient medical equipment as some of the major challenges facing the health sector.

Mr Ba’amlong said the government would also intensify efforts to strengthen primary and secondary healthcare services, improve disease surveillance, ensure the availability of essential medicines and expand digital health initiatives to improve service deliveHe added that the ministry would continue to work with development partners, professional bodies, local government councils, and other stakeholders to mobilise resources and implement evidence-based interventions to improve health outcomes across the state.tate.

The commissioner commended development partners and stakeholders for their contributions, describing their support as critical to the progress recorded in the health sector.

He reaffirmed the Mr Mutfwang administration’s commitment to building a resilient, equitable and people-centred healthcare system capable of meeting the health needs of all residents.

The two-day Joint Annual Health Sector Review was held in Jos on Wednesday and Thursday.

The event brought together officials of the Plateau Ministry of Health, development partners, local government health authorities, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to review the sector’s performance in the first half of 2026 and set priorities for 2027.

(NAN)