Edo NMA advocates PPPs to improve healthcare delivery

The outgoing Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Edo State chapter, Dr. Eustace Oseghale, has said stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors would help hospitals overcome longstanding challenges and improve access to quality healthcare for Nigerians.

According to him, stronger public-private partnerships are needed to address manpower shortages, inadequate infrastructure, financing gaps, and other challenges limiting quality healthcare delivery in Nigerian hospitals.

Oseghale made the call during the 2026 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Edo NMA, held under the theme, “Safeguarding Standards, Advancing Clinical Practice: The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in our Hospitals.”

The conference on July 30, 2026, was attended by the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, alongside other stakeholders, including the Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu.

Speaking on the conference theme, the outgoing Edo NMA chairman said collaboration between the government and the private sector remained critical to improving healthcare delivery across the country.

“Public-Private Partnerships offer us a pathway to bridge gaps — in equipment, manpower, financing, and service delivery.

“When the government provides policy direction and an enabling environment, and the private sector brings in innovation, investment, and efficiency, our hospitals can truly serve the people better. Safeguarding standards must remain non-negotiable, while we advance clinical practice through collaboration,” he said.

Oseghale described the conference theme as timely, noting that healthcare workers continue to grapple with increasing pressure amid limited resources.

“This theme is timely and speaks directly to the realities of healthcare in Edo State and Nigeria at large. As doctors in Edo, we are faced with increasing patient load, dwindling resources, brain drain, and the need to deliver quality care with limited infrastructure. No single sector can solve these challenges alone,” he stated.

The NMA chairman, however, commended the Edo government for recent interventions aimed at improving doctors’ welfare and strengthening healthcare services in the state.

According to him, medical doctors employed by the Edo government who had been denied promotion for about eight years have now been promoted, while residency training has also received a significant boost.

“Medical doctors in the Edo State Government Service, who were deprived of promotion for about 8 years, were promoted some months ago. Residency training has received a big boost in the state with the commencement of several training programs at the State-owned Edo Specialist Hospital.

“Payment of Medical Residency Training Funds is ongoing, and payment of the revised CONMESS has started for doctors working in the service of the Edo State Government. Also, the Doctors’ House at Ezoti Street in Benin, which has been abandoned for decades, is receiving massive renovation,” he said.

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Oseghale also highlighted achievements recorded by his administration, saying the association prioritised members’ welfare through sustained engagement with the government and other stakeholders.

“On our part, we prioritized members’ welfare with steady engagement of the Government and stakeholders on the welfare of members, and we provided affiliate projects for our affiliates.

“We provided members’ ward coats and scrubs at no cost to them, we had steady, continuous medical education programmes and ensured we produced two editions of our journal, we also procured a vehicle for the association and renovated the secretariat,” he said.

During the event, Okpebholo commissioned several landmark projects executed under Oseghale’s administration, which included the Prof. Omoti Presidential Suite, the Dr. Philip Ugbodaga Medical Library, and the NMA Edo State History Ville.

The Edo NMA also honoured Okpebholo with the Icon of Health Excellence Award in recognition of his contributions to healthcare delivery in Edo.

Presenting the award, Oseghale commended the governor for the positive transformation witnessed in the health sector under his administration.

He noted the governor’s commitment to upgrading health infrastructure, improving the welfare of health personnel, and prioritizing healthcare as a key pillar of governance.