The Institute of Health Service Administrators of Nigeria, IHSAN, has renewed calls for enhanced budgetary allocations to the health sector from both federal and state governments.
The appeal was made by IHSAN’s National President, Eze Chijioke, during the institute’s 40th National Professional Development Workshop held in Ido Ekiti.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Chijioke stressed the need for Nigeria to meet the commitments of the Abuja Declaration, which recommends a minimum of 15% of the national budget be dedicated to health.
He emphasized that such an increase would significantly improve hospital infrastructure and reduce the ongoing exodus of healthcare professionals to other countries.
The five-day programme, themed “Developing sustainable best practices in hospital administration”, was hosted by the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, FETHI.
It featured the induction of new members, an extraordinary council meeting, and recognition of outstanding contributions to health administration.
Notable figures honoured included FETHI’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Adekunle Ajayi; Ekiti State Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Olusola Gbenga-Igotun; and Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele. Prophet Sam Olu Alo, a cleric and founder of the Olu Alo Foundation, also received an award of excellence.
At the conclusion of the event, a communiqué issued by the institute underscored the gap between Nigeria’s current health budget and the Abuja Declaration benchmark.
The institute called on governments at all levels to prioritize primary healthcare, expand access to quality services, improve the National Health Insurance Scheme, and give special attention to vulnerable populations.
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Chijioke also urged healthcare administrators to pursue continuous education and professional development. According to him, this would help establish long-term efficiency and sustainability in health service delivery.
In his keynote address, FETHI CMD, Professor Ajayi, advocated a complete overhaul of hospital administration strategies.
He highlighted the challenges posed by rising healthcare costs, technological disruptions, and workforce shortages. Ajayi recommended embracing digital tools like artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and automation to improve decision-making, streamline operations, and manage patient care more efficiently.
He argued that adopting electronic health records and automated scheduling systems could help reduce administrative burdens and improve patient outcomes. He also encouraged hospitals to expand telemedicine services to reach underserved communities.
Ajayi stressed the importance of operational efficiency, stating that mismanagement leads to wasted resources, increased costs, and subpar care.
He urged administrators to optimize hospital resources, focus on staff and patient welfare, and build a lasting legacy in the healthcare sector.
Mrs. Foluso Adelegan, Chairperson of the 2025 Local Organising Committee and Director of Administration at FETHI, challenged healthcare professionals to innovate despite challenges such as the “JAPA syndrome” — the term commonly used to describe the emigration of Nigerian professionals seeking better opportunities abroad. She noted that the workshop provided crucial insights through presentations by seasoned health administrators.
The institute concluded by stressing the need for stronger policies and political will to establish resilient health systems capable of serving the nation’s growing needs.
Punch
