The recent passing of former President Buhari Muhammadu in a hospital in the United Kingdom has reignited conversations around Nigeria’s failing healthcare system. Speaking on the development, Dr. Tope Osundara, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), expressed deep concern over the symbolic and practical implications of the late president’s choice of medical care abroad.
In an exclusive interview with PUNCH Healthwise, Dr. Osundara acknowledged Buhari’s contributions to national development but criticized the continued preference of Nigerian leaders for foreign hospitals. He warned that Buhari’s death in a UK hospital reflects poorly on the billions invested in Nigeria’s healthcare sector during his tenure and damages public trust in local medical institutions.
“Public confidence in our healthcare system is rapidly declining,” Osundara stated. “When leaders, especially former presidents, opt for treatment abroad, it signals distrust in local hospitals. This discourages both investment and morale among healthcare workers.”
He emphasized that government-owned hospitals, funded by taxpayers, are often neglected by the very leaders who approve their budgets. According to him, this lack of top-level patronage hampers infrastructure development and limits public-private partnership opportunities.
Dr. Osundara further decried the poor state of Nigeria’s health facilities, describing many as outdated and demoralizing to doctors in training. He noted that obsolete equipment and underfunding have led to mass emigration of skilled professionals, leaving the country’s healthcare system overstretched.
Calling for urgent reforms, Osundara urged President Bola Tinubu to lead by example by seeking care locally and enforcing stronger investment in the health sector. “Every time our leaders fly abroad for treatment, they weaken our healthcare foundation. This cycle must stop,” he asserted.
He concluded by extending condolences to president Buhari family and urging policymakers to treat this moment as a wake-up call for systemic change.
