The exodus of doctors and health workers from Nigeria to foreign countries is causing a severe shortage of medical professionals in hospitals across the nation. The impact is evident in reduced outpatient services, surgeries, and even ward closures in some healthcare institutions.
The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) recently closed down five wards, housing around 150 beds, due to the scarcity of health workers. Dr. Amos Mogaji, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Health, raised concerns about the shutdown, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention.
The exact number of departing medical professionals is challenging to pinpoint, but the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had previously estimated an annual outflow of around 2,000 health workers. In the last two years, it is speculated that approximately 4,000 doctors have left the country, with destinations such as the United Kingdom being a popular choice.
The Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta has witnessed a departure of about 200 doctors, leading to a noticeable reduction in outpatient services and elective surgeries. The shortage of healthcare professionals is significantly affecting service delivery, hindering the training of medical specialists, and impeding research efforts.
Kano State, among others, is grappling with the departure of over 789 nurses and 162 doctors. This mass migration is straining healthcare services, leaving those who remain to contend with heavy workloads, exhaustion, and burnout.
The economic conditions in Nigeria, coupled with poor welfare packages and inadequate facilities, are identified as key factors driving health workers to seek opportunities abroad. Comparatively higher wages and better working conditions overseas are luring skilled medical professionals away from their home country.
Calls for urgent government intervention are growing louder, with appeals for the declaration of a state of emergency in the health sector. Suggestions include massive recruitment efforts, improving hospital facilities to international standards, and addressing the root causes of the brain drain.
The global competition for Nigerian health professionals is intensifying, with other African countries also recruiting skilled workers. The situation highlights the critical need for systemic reforms and strategic measures to retain healthcare talent and ensure the resilience of the nation’s health sector.