Only 55,000 doctors serving 220 Million Nigerians as others flee abroad for greener pastures

Nigeria’s healthcare system is facing one of its gravest crises in recent history, as medical professionals warn that only about 55,000 doctors are currently available to serve a population exceeding 220 million people.

The alarming disclosure, made by medical experts and mental health specialists at the Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, paints a troubling picture of a healthcare sector struggling under the weight of manpower shortages, brain drain, poor funding and worsening working conditions.

According to the doctors, no fewer than 16,000 Nigerian doctors have emigrated within the last five years, while an estimated 94,000 doctors and nurses have left the country over a longer period as the “Japa” trend continues to drain the nation of skilled healthcare professionals.

The President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Omoti Ernest, confirmed that although over 130,000 doctors have been registered by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, only about 55,000 remain actively practising in the country.

This leaves Nigeria with roughly one doctor for every 3,600 to 4,000 citizens — far below the standard recommended by the World Health Organization, which advocates one doctor for about 600 people.

The consequences of this shortage are devastating. Hospitals are increasingly overwhelmed, healthcare workers are suffering burnout, waiting times are rising, and access to quality medical care continues to deteriorate, especially in rural and underserved communities.

The crisis is even more severe in the mental health sector.

Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Yesir Kareem, revealed that more than 40 million Nigerians are living with mental health disorders, yet approximately 85 per cent of them lack access to proper mental healthcare services.

He noted that Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio has in some cases worsened to one doctor for more than 10,000 patients, while the country currently has fewer than 150 psychiatrists serving millions of people battling mental health conditions.

The President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), Dr. Veronica Nyamali, described the situation as a full-blown crisis, warning that consultants are increasingly forced to perform duties meant for junior doctors due to persistent vacancies caused by migration.

According to her, many psychiatric specialists trained in Nigeria now leave the country shortly after completing their qualifications, creating a continuous cycle of shortages.

The shortage has also made mental healthcare more expensive and less accessible, particularly in rural areas where psychiatric services are virtually non-existent.

Beyond the healthcare sector, the implications for national development are profound.

A nation battling insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment and rising poverty cannot afford a collapsing healthcare system. Untreated mental illnesses contribute to substance abuse, family breakdowns, reduced productivity, unemployment and, in some cases, premature death.

Medical experts have identified poor remuneration, delayed salaries, inadequate medical facilities, limited career advancement opportunities, insecurity and economic instability as the major drivers of the mass exodus of healthcare workers.

While government officials frequently acknowledge the problem, concrete solutions remain slow and inadequate.

Nigeria cannot continue investing billions in training doctors only to lose them to countries offering better pay, safer working conditions and stronger healthcare infrastructure.

The Federal Government and state governments must move beyond rhetoric and implement urgent reforms aimed at retaining healthcare professionals.

These reforms should include improved salaries and welfare packages, modernisation of hospitals, expansion of residency training programmes, stronger health insurance coverage, improved security and incentives for doctors willing to work in underserved communities.

Mental healthcare must also be integrated into primary healthcare services nationwide, while investments in telemedicine and specialist training should be accelerated.

The warning from Nigeria’s doctors is not merely a professional complaint; it is a national emergency alert.

If urgent action is not taken, the country risks a future where access to quality healthcare becomes a privilege reserved for a few, while millions of ordinary Nigerians are left without adequate medical attention.

A nation of over 220 million people cannot afford to lose its doctors faster than it can replace them. The time for decisive intervention is now.

Credit: Vanguard

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