Medical doctors have sounded the alarm that the country’s healthcare system is currently grappling with a severe manpower crisis, as only about 55,000 doctors are left to serve a population of over 200 million, causing them a serious burnout.
To address this challenge, they urged the Federal Government to prioritise salaries and welfare packages for healthcare workers, invest more in modern medical equipment and hospital infrastructure, expand residency and specialist training opportunities, and create clear career progression pathways.
President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof Omoti Ernest disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos on the sidelines of the Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) themed, “Too Few Doctors, Too Many Patients: The Consequences of Manpower Shortage on the Mental Well-being of Nigerians.”
Nigerian doctors have in their numbers been migrating to the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States as well as Middle-Eastern countries within the past decade. This trend, known as Japa in local parlance, has worsened an already dire manpower shortage in the country’s health sector.
The NMA President stated that recent data showed that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, had registered over 130,000 doctors but noted only about 55,000 are actively practicing within Nigeria.
He said with a population exceeding 220 million, this translated to roughly one doctor for every 3,600 to 4,000 people.
“This ratio is far below the World Health Organisation’s recommended threshold of one doctor to about 600 people, highlighting the significant shortage of medical personnel and the strain on healthcare delivery.
“Many Nigerian-trained doctors have emigrated or are no longer engaged in active clinical practice, contributing to the country’s healthcare workforce shortage,” Ernest said.
He pointed out that the emigration of skilled professionals in search of better opportunities abroad has had a significant impact on Nigeria’s hospitals and healthcare workforce.
According to him, “Thousands of doctors and other healthcare professionals have left the country in recent years, leading to severe staff shortages, increased workload for those who remain with many suffering from burnout, longer waiting times for patients, and declining quality of care in many public hospitals.
“Rural and under-served communities have been particularly affected, as they already struggle with limited access to healthcare services.
‘’The reasons behind this migration include poor remuneration, inadequate working conditions, insecurity, limited opportunities for career advancement, and insufficient investment in healthcare infrastructure, among others.
“Many professionals are attracted by better pay, improved facilities, and more stable environments in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.”
On what needs to be done to arrest the trend, the NMA President recommended: “Strengthening security, ensuring timely payment of wages, and providing incentives for professionals to work in under-served areas will also help retain talent.
‘’In addition, partnerships with the private sector and diaspora engagement programmes could encourage Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad to contribute their expertise and support development of the country’s healthcare system.”
