Philosophical and Ethical Dimensions of Resource Allocation in Nigerian Ophthalmology: A Critical Analysis

The allocation of scarce ophthalmology resources in Nigeria raises fundamental philosophical and ethical questions about justice, priority-setting, and the moral obligations of the state toward its visually impaired citizens that have not been systematically examined within an African bioethics framework. This study critically analyses the philosophical and ethical dimensions of resource allocation in Nigerian ophthalmology, proposing a justice-based framework for equitable ophthalmic resource distribution. A qualitative philosophical and empirical bioethics research design will be employed across three phases. Phase one conducts a philosophical literature review of distributive justice theories, capability approach ethics, prioritarianism, and communitarian ethics frameworks relevant to health resource allocation, focusing specifically on their applicability to the Nigerian socio-cultural context. Phase two employs empirical bioethics methods, conducting 60 in-depth interviews with ophthalmologists, patients, disability advocates, philosophers, theologians, and health policymakers to elicit perspectives on fairness in eye care resource distribution, priority-setting criteria, and the role of the state. Phase three integrates philosophical analysis with empirical findings to develop and validate a context-specific justice framework for Nigerian ophthalmology resource allocation. Ethical analysis of resource allocation in global ophthalmology has focused predominantly on international aid distribution and has been largely conducted outside African philosophical traditions, neglecting Ubuntu ethics, communitarian values, and the Nigerian constitutional right to health. This study makes a foundational original contribution to African bioethics applied to ophthalmology and advances the discourse on health equity in Nigeria. Recommendations will guide resource allocation decision-making processes at the Federal Ministry of Health. Keywords: resource allocation, bioethics, justice, ophthalmology policy, African philosophy