Kwara Healthcare Truth: Data Debunks Doctor Crisis
Tobiloba OdejinmiBy Tobiloba Odejinmi
Education
May 7, 2026 • 8:39 PM
5m5 min read
Source: Pexels
The Core Insight
Kwara State Health Commissioner refutes claims of one doctor per 12,000 patients, highlighting reforms since 2019: 193+ PHC renovations, KWASUTH accreditation and partnerships for teaching hospitals, sustained C-section surgeries (116 in Jan, 151 in Feb), 1000+ recruitments, new MRI machines, and expanding health insurance via KWHIA.
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Tobiloba Odejinmi
Tobiloba Odejinmi is an education specialist dedicated to helping students and lifelong learners discover the best scholarship opportunities, study techniques, and career pathways.
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Kwara State Ministry of Health Rebuts 'One Doctor to 12,000 People' Claim, Highlights Reforms Since 2019
The Kwara State Ministry of Health has responded to a THISDAY article published on April 1, 2026, titled “In Kwara, It’s One Doctor to 12,000 People.” In the right-of-reply penned by Commissioner Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, the government acknowledges challenges in the health sector but rejects the portrayal of systemic collapse.
Since 2019, the administration has implemented reforms to strengthen primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare, including infrastructure upgrades, workforce expansion, and health insurance coverage.
Renovated Primary Health Centre in Kwara State (Credit: sirmudi_photography via Pexels)
Primary and Secondary Healthcare Upgrades
The government has renovated and equipped 193 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across all 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). Additionally, 83 PHCs were upgraded through the Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transformation (IMPACT) programme, with several others under state-supported initiatives. Several general hospitals have also undergone phased infrastructural upgrades, similar to Abuja's health upgrades.
Tertiary Healthcare and Teaching Hospital Initiatives
The State Government converted General Hospital Ilorin to Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH), which has been accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for training medical students. The state has partnered with Thomas Adewumi University, Oko, and Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, to convert General Hospital Omu-Aran and Sobi Specialist Hospital into affiliated teaching hospitals to improve service delivery and training capacity, addressing issues like those in hospital mandates.
KWASUTH Teaching Hospital Facility (Credit: Duy Tân Đại học via Pexels)
At KWASUTH, occasional operational challenges like power or water disruptions are addressed through budgetary provisions, alternative power sources, and maintenance. The ministry states there was no blanket suspension of Caesarean Section services for two weeks; any disruptions were due to specific circumstances with contingency arrangements.
Verified data shows sustained surgical activity:
January: 116 Caesarean Sections, 351 total surgeries
February: 151 Caesarean Sections, 379 total surgeries
KWASUTH has a fully functional central generator powering the entire facility and water storage systems for round-the-clock supply.
This accreditation, granted after rigorous assessment of infrastructure and requisite personnel, stands as a strong attestation and underscores the government’s commitment to sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure, human resources, and provision of quality healthcare service delivery.
Workforce Expansion and Accreditations
The doctor-to-patient ratio cited in the article is described as a concoction and a national challenge due to global migration. The state maintains open recruitment for doctors and health workers. Over 1,000 health workers were recruited into primary healthcare in 2025; 150 nurses and midwives will resume soon across secondary hospitals; dozens of staff, including doctors, were recruited for KWASUTH.
Health Workforce Expansion in Kwara (Credit: Kindel Media via Pexels)
Salaries are at parity with federal structures and paid promptly, with support for training via the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and allowances. Accreditations include the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria for 30 intern pharmacists and for nurses; efforts continue for Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) accreditation.
Equipment and Health Insurance
Advanced diagnostic equipment has been procured, including a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine for KWASUTH (installation ongoing) and repairs to the 0.3 Tesla MRI at Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre (HADC), soon available for public use.
New MRI Equipment at KWASUTH (Credit: Leeloo The First via Pexels)
Through the Kwara State Health Insurance Agency (KWHIA), thousands of residents, especially vulnerable populations, have access to affordable care, akin to national efforts like Nigeria's GIFSHIP. Civil servants will soon join the KwaraCare scheme to advance universal health coverage.
The ministry notes workforce mobility is a global issue and emphasizes steady progress from inherited structures, with new doctor deployments and renewable energy in cottage and general hospitals forthcoming, building on successes like TB death reductions.
Conclusion
While challenges persist, Kwara State’s healthcare system is undergoing sustained improvement, with new equipment in public hospitals and focus on workforce, training, and service delivery.
Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam is the Commissioner for Health, Kwara State.
