Healthcare and technology experts have called for urgent reforms to address persistent challenges affecting Nigeria’s healthcare system, warning that economic hardship is forcing many Nigerians to rely on self medication instead of seeking professional medical care.
According to a report by The Guardian, the experts made the call during a media training organised by Leadway Assurance for members of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE) in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, Team Lead, Commercial Business at Leadway Health, Oluwafemi Awoleye, identified limited access to healthcare services, shortage of medical personnel caused by brain drain, inadequate funding, poor investment in healthcare infrastructure and technology, delays in claims reimbursement and disruptions in the pharmaceutical supply chain as major obstacles facing the sector.
He noted that the country’s economic challenges have significantly reduced the purchasing power of many Nigerians, leading to increased self medication and delayed access to quality healthcare.
Awoleye warned that unless these challenges are addressed, they could undermine Nigeria’s economic growth by affecting the health and productivity of the workforce. He urged the media to draw greater public attention to the issues and hold policymakers accountable for implementing meaningful reforms.
He stressed that responsible journalism can help expose systemic weaknesses, promote evidence based reporting and encourage policies that improve access to affordable and quality healthcare services across the country.
Also speaking at the training, Group Chief Executive Officer of Billsbox Services Limited, Monday Ashibogwu, urged journalists to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) responsibly while safeguarding professional ethics and public trust.
Delivering a presentation on “Publishing in an Era of Artificial Intelligence,” Ashibogwu said AI should be seen as a tool to improve productivity and support investigative journalism rather than a replacement for journalists.
He cautioned media professionals against the dangers of fabricated information, deepfakes, plagiarism, copyright violations, privacy breaches and misinformation associated with the misuse of AI technologies.
Ashibogwu encouraged media organisations to develop clear AI policies, train newsroom staff, establish verification processes and ensure compliance with copyright regulations while integrating AI into newsroom operations.
He maintained that the future of journalism lies in combining human editorial judgment with the efficiency of artificial intelligence to deliver credible and trustworthy reporting.
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