Nigeria is facing a deepening healthcare crisis as the continued migration of medical professionals abroad leaves hospitals struggling with severe staff shortages, medical experts have warned.
Recently, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) revealed that only about 55,000 of the more than 130,000 doctors registered in the country are actively practicing, resulting in a doctor-to-patient ratio of roughly one doctor for every 4,000 Nigerians. The figure falls far below the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of one doctor per 1,000 people.
Health sector leaders attributed the shortage largely to the growing Japa trend which has seen thousands of Nigerian professionals relocate abroad in search of better opportunities. The NMA has stated that over 16,000 doctors have left Nigeria within the last five year, with many moving to countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the United States where salaries and working conditions are better.
Medical practitioners have added that Nigerian doctors often earn between ₦150,000 and ₦700,000 monthly, while their counterparts abroad can earn several times that amount. Beyond pay, many have mentioned the poor infrastructure, inadequate equipment, delayed salaries, and difficult working conditions as the key reasons for leaving.
The impact is being felt across the healthcare system, especially in mental health services. Experts warned that fewer than 150 psychiatrists are currently available to serve an estimated 40 million Nigerians requiring mental health support, and that places enormous pressure on the few specialists remaining in the country.
Doctors say the shortage is contributing to burnout among healthcare workers, longer waiting times for patients, and reduced access to quality care, especially in rural communities.
The NMA has called on federal and state governments to improve remuneration, provide incentives for doctors working in underserved areas, and invest in healthcare infrastructure to stem the exodus and strengthen the country’s health system.
