At the Church of Nigeria’s second Health Summit in Abuja, the Anglican Primate, Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, delivered a sobering critique of Nigeria’s healthcare system, describing many hospitals both public and private as “places where people go to die.”
His remarks highlighted the ethical decay and systemic failures plaguing the sector under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking to an audience of healthcare professionals within the Church, the Primate lamented that Nigeria’s hospitals often fail not due to a lack of medical knowledge, but because of a deep erosion of compassion, ethics, and accountability. He cited disturbing trends such as delayed emergency care for critical patients until payments are made, violations of the Hippocratic Oath, and poor patient treatment driven by greed and neglect.
“Sadly, the once noble image of the medical profession has been marred by false diagnoses, extortionate billing, counterfeit drugs, lack of accountability, and poor patient care,” he said.
Despite the grim outlook, Ndukuba expressed hope that the summit would act as a catalyst for a paradigm shift in healthcare delivery. He urged Christian medical practitioners to uphold not only professional ethics but also the higher calling of the law of Christ.
He announced the Church’s plan to launch its own Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and a Health Professionals Guild to help coordinate quality, faith-driven healthcare services for its members. According to him, the Church must not just support the government it must become a reliable alternative for people seeking trustworthy care.
To this end, the Church is also planning a comprehensive survey of all Anglican-owned health facilities across Nigeria. This will help consolidate resources, improve service delivery, and identify strategic areas like pharmaceutical production, training, and medical research sectors where the Church currently lacks presence.
“In this decade of God’s reign, we encourage all parishes, dioceses, and provinces to invest in healthcare facilities and missions. Healing and health must become tools of evangelism and nation-building,” he added.
Chairing the event, Dr. Amal Pepple pointed to the broader social development crisis in Nigeria, citing the country’s dismal health indices and the failure of the national health insurance system to deliver on its promise of affordable care. She also raised alarm over the mass exodus of skilled health workers, which has worsened the country’s healthcare manpower deficit.
Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Chairman of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), welcomed the Church’s proposed HMO, calling it a much-needed intervention to fill critical gaps in the system.
As the summit concluded, attendees were urged to pursue a collaborative, mission-driven strategy that prioritizes compassion, efficiency, and integrity offering not just treatment, but hope.
