The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Katsina has raised alarm over a significant human resource gap across the primary and secondary healthcare levels in the state.
The coalition expressed its concerns on Tuesday in Katsina during a press briefing by its Chairman, Malam Abdulrahman Abdullahi, who was assessing Gov. Dikko Radda’s two years in office.
He acknowledged some achievements in the health sector but highlighted persistent challenges that could hinder the administration’s overall objectives.
Abdullahi noted that two key facilities, Turai Yar’adua Maternity and Children Hospital and General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital (GARSH), were severely affected by brain drain.
“This is largely due to certain administrative actions, especially by the agency overseeing the facilities,” he said.
He explained that many qualified, high-ranking, and hard-to-replace health professionals, including consultants, nurses, and technologists, had left due to poor welfare conditions, wrongful postings, retirements, or better opportunities elsewhere.
“Unfortunately, there has been no adequate recruitment to fill these vacancies, resulting in a significant staff shortage and placing an overwhelming burden on the few remaining workers.
“Some departments now operate below the minimum staffing levels required for standard service delivery.”
Abdullahi also highlighted a serious funding gap that threatened efficient healthcare delivery.
“The sector suffers from inadequate budgetary allocations and delayed release of approved funds.
“At Turai Yar’adua Maternity Hospital, financial constraints have led to the abandonment of basic standards.
“In many cases, prescriptions are written on plain sheets of paper, and patients must buy exercise books to document their care, undermining professionalism and proper record management,” he said.
He added that funding shortages had impacted equipment, facilities, and consumables.
“At GARSH, essential diagnostic equipment such as MRI and CT scan machines are non-functional, with no funds available for repairs or replacements.
“This forces patients to seek services in private hospitals or travel out of state, often at unaffordable costs.
“These conditions compromise patient care and erode public confidence in the state health system,” Abdullahi explained.
He said beyond GARSH and Turai Yar’adua Hospital, many general and primary healthcare facilities across Katsina continued to operate without basic modern medical tools and life-saving equipment.
“This limits their ability to provide comprehensive care, especially in emergencies, leading to avoidable referrals and fatalities.
“In spite of these challenges, the coalition acknowledged the administration’s political will in sustaining key health initiatives, including the Contributory Healthcare Scheme under the state Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KATCHMA).”
Abdullahi commended the government for efforts to reduce healthcare expenses indirectly for civil servants and the public through the scheme, though he noted that the state had yet to fulfil its financial obligations as an employer.
“This undermines the scheme’s sustainability and credibility, reducing the number of beneficiaries.
“Currently, only civil servants’ contributions are funding services, while the state’s employer contributions are still awaited,” he said.
He also lauded the government for renovating selected primary health care centres, rehabilitating dormant health facilities, and upgrading some primary healthcare centres to general hospitals.
“These efforts, aimed at achieving one functional health facility per ward and Universal Health Coverage for rural communities, are commendable,” Abdullahi stated.
He pointed out that the ongoing construction of a Dialysis Centre at GARSH was another vital project that would improve access to affordable renal care in the state.
“Once completed, the centre is expected to significantly reduce costs and travel burdens for dialysis patients, ultimately saving the lives of vulnerable citizens.”
