Jos, Nigeria – A significant legislative step has been taken to transform healthcare and medical education in Plateau State. Prof. Christopher Yilgwan, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Plateau Specialist Hospital, has announced that a formal bill seeking to upgrade the institution to a full-fledged teaching hospital has been submitted to the Plateau State House of Assembly.
The disclosure was made during the hospital’s 2025 end-of-year get-together and award night for retirees, an event that also highlighted the institution’s recent advancements.
What the Upgrade to a Teaching Hospital Truly Means
Prof. Yilgwan described the move as “a major step toward strengthening medical education, research, and healthcare delivery on the Plateau.” But beyond the official statement, this upgrade represents a fundamental shift in the hospital’s mission and capabilities.
Currently, a specialist hospital focuses primarily on providing advanced clinical care in specific fields. A teaching hospital, however, has a tripartite mandate:
- Clinical Service: Delivering advanced, often tertiary-level, patient care.
- Medical Education: Serving as the primary practical training ground for medical students, doctors in residency programs, nurses, and other health professionals. This integrates theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience.
- Research: Conducting clinical and biomedical research to advance medical science and improve treatment protocols, often in partnership with universities and international institutions.
“The proposed upgrade would enable the hospital to train medical students and other health professionals, improve specialist services, and foster deeper partnerships,” Yilgwan explained. This transformation is expected to position the hospital as a key centre for medical training and advanced healthcare, ultimately enhancing the quality of services for residents of Plateau State and beyond.
Building a Foundation for the Future
The bill submission is not an isolated event but the culmination of strategic upgrades already underway at the hospital. Prof. Yilgwan highlighted key infrastructural and systemic improvements that have laid the necessary groundwork:
- State-of-the-Art Medical Laboratory: In 2025, the hospital moved into a new advanced laboratory, which has “transformed the services and quality of care” by enabling more accurate diagnostics and supporting complex medical procedures.
- Digital Transformation: The hospital is actively transitioning from a paper-based to an electronic medical records (EMR) system. This critical shift improves patient data management, enhances safety, and is essential for the data-driven research environment of a teaching hospital.
- International Research Partnerships: The institution has signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with research centres in the United States. These partnerships are designed to bolster its research capacity, facilitate knowledge exchange, and potentially attract funding and cutting-edge practices.
Official Endorsement and a Call to Action
The event also featured Dr. Barnabas Baam’long, the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, who endorsed the upgrade and framed it as a call for heightened professionalism. He urged the staff to “brace themselves for the hospital’s transition,” emphasizing the need for greater commitment and readiness to meet the more demanding standards of a teaching hospital environment, which includes mentoring students and engaging in academic rigor.
Celebrating Legacy and Excellence
The ceremony served a dual purpose: looking forward to the hospital’s future while honoring its past. Thirty-one retirees were awarded for their years of “selfless contribution,” and two current staff members were recognized for outstanding performance. This act of recognition underscores the human capital foundation upon which the future teaching hospital will be built.
The submission of this bill marks the beginning of a legislative process. If passed, it could catalyze a new era for healthcare in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, addressing the critical need for more training institutions for healthcare professionals while elevating the standard of specialist care available locally.
Report by Blessing Odega for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Edited by Peter Amine.
