Doctor
Nigeria’s hospitals are struggling due to systemic gaps in the healthcare framework, not because of incompetent doctors, according to an entrepreneur and healthcare advocate, Dr. Richard Ajayi.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ajayi described the current healthcare system as “fractured and dangerously inconsistent” due to a lack of regulatory oversight and national standards.
Ajayi emphasized that the healthcare system has never clearly defined what constitutes a hospital, leading to poor health outcomes across the country.
“There are no universally enforced minimum standards, no shared national definition of what constitutes a hospital, and no robust mechanisms to enforce accountability,” he said.
“As a result, anything with a bed, a stethoscope and a nameplate can call itself a hospital.”
Sobering statistics highlight the severity of the issue.
According to the Legatum Institute (2019), Nigeria ranks 162nd out of 167 countries in health system performance.
The country has just 0.32 hospital beds per 1,000 people, and healthcare spending per person stands at a mere $7.8 per year. “Healthcare spending per person stands at a mere 7.8 dollars per year, which amounts to roughly N33 a day,” Ajayi noted.
An estimated 74.68% of Nigerians pay for healthcare out-of-pocket, exposing millions to catastrophic health expenditure.
Ajayi stressed that the chaos in the Nigerian hospital sector is a consequence of systemic neglect. “Quality is not the norm in such an environment, it is a fortunate accident,” he said.
The lack of enforced definitions and standards leads to varying levels of patient safety, clinical competence, and facility infrastructure, often leaving rural communities worst affected.
The healthcare expert called for a clear national definition of what a hospital should be, alongside the enforcement of minimum infrastructure, equipment, and personnel standards.
“Regulation is not bureaucracy, it is a framework for safety, trust, and consistency. We must codify the basic building blocks of hospitals and reward excellence, not mediocrity,” Ajayi said.
Citing countries like South Africa and Kenya with stronger regulatory frameworks, Ajayi emphasized the need for structural reform and institutional enforcement in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“Without structural reform and institutional enforcement, even the most qualified health professionals will continue to operate in the dark. Without a shared definition, even our best professionals work blindly,” he warned.
