MEDICAL PLURALISM IN NIGERIA: PATTERNS, DRIVERS, CONSEQUENCES AND THE WAY FORWARD

Abstract

Rethinking Nigeria’s leadership beyond the 21st Century will be incomplete without any focus on Nigeria’s healthcare challenges and new policy thrusts that leadership could explore. Healthcare delivery in Nigeria is characterised by a complex interplay of multiple medical systems, commonly referred to as medical pluralism. This phenomenon reflects the coexistence and utilization of orthodox (biomedical), traditional, and spiritual healing systems within the same society. This paper examines the nature of medical pluralism in Nigeria and contends that it is not merely a cultural practice but also a response to structural challenges within the Nigerian healthcare system, including limited access to services, high cost of care, and uneven distribution of healthcare facilities. The patterns, drivers or causes, merits and consequences of medical pluralism in Nigeria were also examined, while strategies for curtailment of negative aspects and improvements in the trend were recommended. In particular, it was strongly recommended that during consultation with clients or patients, practitioners of each pathway to health should adequately interrogate current treatment engagements and medical history of clients and patients to avoid adverse situations that may arise due to inclinations to concurrent medical pluralism.