RismadarVoice Reporters
October 21, 2026
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has raised concerns over the deteriorating welfare of medical practitioners in Enugu State, warning that excessive workloads, psychological stress and unsafe working conditions could undermine healthcare delivery.
Dr Kelvin Emeka Ortuanya appealed during a press briefing in Enugu to mark the 2026 Physicians’ Week celebration, calling for greater attention to doctors’ physical and mental well-being.
The annual celebration, themed Securing the Future of Medicine in Nigeria, includes a subtheme, Saving the Savers: Promoting Physicians’ Well-being and Preventing Burnout, Cardiovascular Disease and Premature Death.
Ortuanya said medical practitioners frequently worked long hours, attended to emergencies and made critical decisions under intense pressure, often neglecting their personal health while caring for patients.
He warned that continued exposure to emotional exhaustion and demanding working conditions could have serious consequences for doctors and the patients who depend on their services.
According to him, safeguarding the future of medicine requires a healthy and motivated workforce supported by effective government policies, adequate healthcare infrastructure and quality medical education.
He urged healthcare institutions to make physicians’ welfare a permanent priority rather than an issue addressed only during professional celebrations.
The medical practitioner also appealed to Governor Peter Mbah, through the Commissioner for Health, Professor George Ugwu, to strengthen measures aimed at protecting healthcare workers from occupational hazards.
He maintained that employers should recognise the limitations of overworked medical personnel and provide conditions that encourage adequate rest, professional development and effective healthcare delivery.
Addressing workplace safety, Ortuanya condemned threats, intimidation, harassment and physical attacks against medical professionals.
He stressed that hospitals should remain safe environments where doctors could perform their duties without fear of violence.
The NMA also called for sustained engagement between healthcare authorities and medical professionals to address remuneration, career progression, training opportunities and access to essential medical equipment.
The concerns come amid wider discussions about the migration of Nigerian doctors, workforce shortages and the increasing pressure on healthcare institutions across the country.
The association has repeatedly identified poor remuneration, professional insecurity and inadequate working conditions as factors affecting the retention of medical practitioners.
Ortuanya maintained that protecting doctors’ health and professional welfare was essential to building a resilient healthcare system.
He called on government authorities, healthcare administrators and other stakeholders to prioritise policies that would protect medical personnel while ensuring that patients received quality and reliable services.
