The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ogun State branch, has called on security agencies to stop arresting and prosecuting doctors over alleged medical negligence without first allowing the appropriate professional bodies to investigate such cases.
The association said allegations of medical negligence should first be handled by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), which is legally responsible for investigating complaints against medical practitioners.
Speaking at a press conference in Abeokuta on Thursday as part of activities marking the association’s 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Chairman of the Ogun State chapter, Dr. Ogunjimi Luqman Opeoluwa, expressed concern over what he described as the increasing involvement of security agencies in medical matters.
According to him, doctors are often arrested immediately after the death of a patient without proper investigations into what led to the outcome.
He said allegations of professional negligence against doctors should be investigated by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the body legally empowered to handle such cases, rather than having security agencies arrest and prosecute medical practitioners without following due process.
“Doctors, especially those working in border communities like Ota, Mowe and Ogijo, are often arrested after a patient dies. A patient’s death should not automatically be seen as proof of medical negligence because every case deserves proper investigation before anyone is blamed,” he said.
The NMA chairman disclosed that the association had repeatedly accompanied doctors to police stations over cases that, in its view, should have been handled through established professional procedures.
He also revealed that the association is currently pursuing three assault cases in court after insisting that individuals who attacked healthcare workers be prosecuted.
Dr. Ogunjimi said the association chose the theme of this year’s AGM, “Protecting the Doctor, Caring for the Caregiver,” because of the growing harassment, intimidation and physical assaults against doctors across Ogun State and the country.
He urged patients and their relatives to make use of complaint channels available in hospitals instead of attacking healthcare workers whenever they are dissatisfied with treatment.
According to him, hospitals have mechanisms, including SERVICOM units, for investigating complaints against doctors and other health workers.
While acknowledging that many doctors are leaving Nigeria in search of better opportunities abroad, Dr. Ogunjimi said some medical practitioners have chosen to remain and serve despite the challenges.
“Brain drain is a serious problem, but some of us have made a conscious decision to remain here and contribute our quota. What we are asking of government and the public is to take good care of those who have decided to stay.”
He added that Ogun State, with an estimated population of about nine million people, currently has only about 1,200 doctors in federal and state public health institutions, describing the number as inadequate.
According to him, the state requires between 5,000 and 10,000 doctors to meet the healthcare needs of its growing population.
Stop arresting doctors without due process – NMA tells security agencies