By Muhammad Amaan
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has approved the report of the Health Policy and Strategic Planning committee of the association.
The committee ably chaired by Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, had presented the NMA Strategic plan and it was adopted as a working document of the NMA, during the just concluded NMA NEC Conference and Meeting held from Tuesday December 2, to Friday December, 5 in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting and co-signed by the National President of the Association, Professor Bala Audu and the Secretary General, Dr Benjamin Egbo, had proposed the launching of the document was for January 2026.
Health Reporters Newspapers reports that the eight thematic areas in the proposed Strategic Plan are; NMA Institutional and Organizational Development; Strengthening strategic communication, rebranding and partnership; Improving patients’ care via well-defined engagement with the Federal and States Ministries of Health and their agencies, taking advantage of the National Health Act, the Health Sector Renewal and Investment Initiative and relevant strategic plans and blueprints
Others are; Improving Clinical Governance and Accountability; Improving Doctors Welfare, wellbeing, safety and restoration of dignity; Strengthening Intra and Inter Professional Relationships and Engagement; Enhancing the NMA strategic purchasing power and innovative health financing and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning throughout the implementation of the strategy.
The 2025 NMA NEC Conference and Meeting has a theme, “Beyond Crosswords: Unlocking Health System Potential Through Partnership.”
The sub-theme was “Caring for the Caregivers: Doctors’ Welfare and Mental Resilience in a Broken System.”
In the communique, the NEC observed ongoing concerns regarding the introduction of Consultant Nurses and reaffirmed its position on the matter.
It further noted the need to strengthen the draft National Prescription Policy to ensure that provisions relating to prescribing rights adequately protect the interest of medical doctors.
It also observed the successful completion of the full registration process for the Doctors’ Medical Aid Foundation and the commencement of activities under the foundation.
The NMA NEC further rejected the approval to create a cadre introducing Consultant Nurses in civil service and directed all State Chairmen to immediately engage their respective heads of service to advocate for upwards review of the retirement age for medical doctors.
It also approved the commencement of funding and operational activities under the Doctors Medical Aid Foundation.
