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By Aliyu Bala Gerengi, Gombe
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Gombe State Chapter, has called for urgent improvements in doctors’ welfare, increased healthcare funding and a digital transformation of medical services to stem the growing shortage of medical personnel in Nigeria.
The association warned that the continued migration of skilled health professionals abroad, coupled with poor working conditions and inadequate resources, poses a serious challenge to the country’s healthcare delivery system.
The call was made during the 2026 Physicians’ Week held at the Professor Idris Mohammed Multipurpose Hall, College of Medicine, Gombe State University, under the theme, “Securing the Future of Medicine in Nigeria.”
The event brought together medical practitioners and key stakeholders to examine the challenges threatening the future of healthcare in Nigeria, with particular attention to the exodus of trained professionals, rising disease burden and the need for modern medical technology.
Beyond deliberations, the NMA extended its services to communities by organising free medical consultations, providing treatment and distributing free drugs to residents of selected areas across Gombe State.
Speaking at the event, the NMA Gombe State Chairman, Dr. Ishaq Auwal Gombe, said the Physicians’ Week provided an opportunity to look beyond celebration and focus on practical solutions to the challenges confronting the medical profession.
He emphasised the need for renewed commitment to improving healthcare delivery and strengthening the medical workforce in the country.
The Chairman of the occasion, Professor Joshua Abubakar Difa, raised the alarm over the shortage of medical personnel in health facilities across Gombe State, noting that overcrowding in hospitals reflected the growing pressure on available healthcare workers.
Professor Difa called for improved remuneration and better working conditions to make medical practice more attractive and encourage doctors to remain in the country.
He also urged healthcare professionals to embrace digital technology, stressing that innovation could improve efficiency, strengthen patient care and enhance the quality of medical services.
‘Japa’ Crisis Threatens Healthcare System
In his presentation, the guest speaker, Dr. Nuhu Ardo, Head of Clinical Services and Training at the Federal Medical Centre, Kumo, identified the migration of skilled health workers, popularly known as Japa, as one of the biggest challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Dr. Ardo disclosed that more than 11,000 trained Nigerian medical workers were in the United Kingdom alone, highlighting the scale of the challenge confronting efforts to maintain an adequate healthcare workforce.
He stressed the need for urgent interventions to address the factors driving medical professionals abroad and strengthen the capacity of health facilities to meet the needs of the population.
The continued departure of trained personnel has intensified concerns over how Nigeria can retain its medical workforce while ensuring that patients receive timely and quality treatment.
Gombe Pushes Digital Healthcare
Adding a technology perspective to the discussion, the Executive Director of the Gombe State Information Management, e-Governance and Digital Economy Commission, Dr. Ahmed Magem, underscored the importance of digital innovation in modern healthcare.
Dr. Magem advocated continuous professional development and the adoption of emerging technologies in medical diagnosis, treatment and service delivery.
He noted that embracing digital solutions could help improve efficiency and support better healthcare outcomes as the medical profession responds to evolving demands.
Ex-FTH Gombe Boss Demands More Funding
In a goodwill message, the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Professor Yusuf Abdullahi, commended the NMA for its commitment to improving healthcare delivery.
Similarly, the hospital’s former Chief Medical Director, Professor Usman Aliyu Elnafaty, urged the government to increase investment in the health sector, warning that inadequate funding could undermine efforts to tackle the migration of medical professionals and other emerging challenges.
He stressed the need for sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure, workers’ welfare and other critical areas to strengthen the country’s health system.
The 2026 Physicians’ Week ended with a strong call for better remuneration, improved working conditions, increased government funding and greater adoption of digital technology.
Participants stressed that securing the future of medicine in Nigeria would require practical measures to retain skilled professionals, equip health facilities and ensure that Nigerians have access to quality and affordable healthcare.
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