Nigeria’s Health Sector Crisis: A 20-Year Wait for Adequate Medical Personnel – Nigeria faces a healthcare crisis of monumental proportions. Leading stakeholders in the health sector have voiced concerns about the increasing “brain drain” of medical professionals leaving the country for better opportunities abroad. With the current trend, Nigeria might need at least 20 years to produce the required 400,000 health workers to adequately serve its burgeoning population of 220 million.
The Grim Numbers
According to recent interactions with PUNCH Healthwise, Nigeria lags far behind in its doctor-to-patient ratio. Currently, the country has a dismal one doctor for every 8,000 patients. This starkly contrasts with the World Health Organisation’s recommendation of one doctor for every 600 patients.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, highlighted the dire need for approximately 400,000 health workers. This figure encompasses various roles within the health sector: from community health workers, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, and physicians to lab scientists, technicians, and auxiliary staff.
Further compounding the issue, the Register of the General Medical Council of the UK revealed that the number of Nigerian-trained doctors practicing in the UK has risen to 11,001.
The Voices of Concern
Professor Mike Ogirima, a past President of the Nigerian Medical Association and currently the Provost at the College of Health Sciences, Federal University Lokoja, bemoaned the rate at which health workers are migrating abroad. He described the situation as “horrible”, emphasizing that Nigeria currently produces merely 3,000 doctors annually, leaving the country grappling with a massive deficit.
Considering the current production rate, Ogirima estimates it will take Nigeria about 10 years just to address the doctor shortage, with an additional 10 years required to cater to other healthcare professionals. This brings the total to a staggering 20 years to meet the 400,000 health worker requirement.
Ogirima also revealed that back in 2016, around 20,000 Nigerian doctors were practicing in America and about 15,000 in European countries.
A Call for Action
Professor Adetokunbo Fabamwo, the Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, stressed the urgency of retaining the current medical workforce. He likens the situation to “putting water in a basket” – as fast as we produce, they leave. He urged the federal government to focus on strategies to stem the ongoing migration.
Olumide Akintayo, a past President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, questioned the feasibility of producing 400,000 health workers given the present circumstances. He underscored the need to reconsider the country’s approach, suggesting the opening of restricted borders in healthcare and fostering teamwork among health workers.
Concluding Thoughts
The exodus of medical professionals from Nigeria paints a bleak picture for the country’s healthcare future. The need to invest in the training of health workers, coupled with addressing challenges like insecurity and lack of equipment, has never been more critical. The government must act swiftly to halt this migration and ensure that Nigeria’s healthcare system is equipped to serve its citizens adequately.
