IGP: Police Medical Ecosystem Must Transition from Supportive to Preventive Care

Linus Aleke in Abuja

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has declared the Nigeria Police Medical Services must shift decisively from a culture of supportive care to one centred on prevention, stressing the future of effective policing depends on a resilient and forward-thinking healthcare system.

Speaking yesterday at the opening of the Conference of Heads of Police Healthcare Facilities in Abuja, the IGP urged the Directorate of Medical Services to approach its deliberations with the mindset of both administrators and system-builders.

He encouraged participants to reflect critically on existing gaps while anticipating the evolving medical needs of modern policing.

Egbetokun underscored the importance of integrating digital health solutions, strengthening trauma-care systems, expanding mental-health frameworks, improving emergency coordination, ensuring professional accreditation, and establishing sustainable staffing pipelines.

These elements, he said, form the foundation of a modern, efficient, and fully responsive police healthcare model.

“As we look to the future, expectations on this Directorate continue to grow. We must move from supportive care to preventive care; from fragmented structures to coordinated frameworks; from isolated facilities to a fully networked medical ecosystem that delivers standardised, professional, compassionate, and timely care,” he said

The IGP noted that contemporary policing demands far more than courage or command presence. It requires complete resilience—physical, emotional, and psychological.

He emphasised that safeguarding the wellbeing of police officers must be treated as a strategic priority, not an afterthought.

“This conference is not just an administrative formality. It is a commitment – one that ensures those who protect others are themselves protected, supported, and medically empowered to perform at their highest capacity,” he stated.

Reflecting on the evolution of the Force Medical Services, Egbetokun recalled its establishment in August 1975 at Alagbon, Lagos, with the core objective of providing structured medical support to police personnel.

Over the years, the directorate, he said, has expanded in scope and relevance, adapting to the shifting landscape of policing and national security.

IGP noted, the impact of that vision can be seen in the 64 healthcare facilities operating across the country, providing essential medical services to officers, their families, and individuals in lawful custody.

This, he said, reinforces an essential truth: the Nigeria Police Force is not only an institution of law enforcement, but also a guardian of welfare, safety, and human dignity.