Nigeria doctor shortage worsens as licensed medical practitioners drop to 40,000, far below the 300,000 needed, amid rising emigration and brain drain

Nigeria’s healthcare system is facing a severe crisis, with the number of licensed doctors declining sharply to about 40,000 far below the estimated 300,000 required to serve a population of over 220 million.

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In 2024, Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Pate revealed that Nigeria had around 55,000 licensed doctors. Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today, he noted that no fewer than 16,000 doctors had left the country over the past five years, while approximately 17,000 were transferred out of active service.

The situation has worsened further, according to Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi. At a leadership dialogue themed “Strengthening PHC Systems:

A Joint Leadership Dialogue,” Abayomi disclosed that the number of practising doctors nationwide has dropped from 55,000 to 40,000 within a year.

Abayomi highlighted the acute shortage in Lagos, where only 7,000 doctors serve an estimated 30 million residents, leaving the state in dire need of an additional 33,000 doctors.

He said, “Nigeria currently has about 40,000 doctors against an estimated need of 300,000, while Lagos alone requires about 33,000 doctors but has only about 7,000.”

To address the shortfall, Lagos is investing in its University of Medicine and Health (UMH), which is expected to produce roughly 2,500 healthcare workers annually, including laboratory scientists and other essential cadres, over the next five years.

The exodus of healthcare professionals, known as japa syndrome, has been a persistent problem. A 2017 survey revealed that 88 per cent of Nigerian doctors were seeking opportunities abroad.

Poor funding, outdated infrastructure, harsh working conditions, insecurity, and weak policy enforcement continue to drive the brain drain.

According to the UK’s General Medical Council, 11,001 Nigerian-trained doctors now practise in the United Kingdom.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) President, Prof. Bala Audu, warned that Nigeria has become a direct recruitment hub for foreign governments, especially for specialists in obstetrics, gynaecology, and paediatrics.

“Many of our doctors are not even going abroad to look for jobs. Foreign governments now come into Nigeria to pick doctors and take them away,” he said.

Former NMA President Prof. Mike Ogirima described Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio as “horrible,” with one doctor for every 8,000 patients, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended one doctor to 600 patients.

With the country producing only about 3,000 doctors annually, it could take at least a decade to close the gap—assuming no further losses to emigration.

Healthcare experts warn that without urgent reforms, including improved welfare, security, and modern equipment, the shortage will deepen.

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Doctors have called for comprehensive insurance schemes, better motivation, and protection as essential steps to retain a skilled workforce and rescue Nigeria’s healthcare system.