The Federal Government has disclosed that approximately 55,000 licenced doctors are currently operating within the country, tackling the escalating demands of patients amidst the departure of healthcare professionals to overseas hospitals and medical facilities.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, unveiled startling statistics, indicating that Nigeria has experienced a significant loss of 15,000 to 16,000 doctors over the past five years due to the ‘Japa syndrome’, with an additional 17,000 having been relocated.
Addressing the brain drain crisis, Pate underscored the detrimental impact on the health sector, lamenting the departure of highly skilled professionals and acknowledging efforts by the government to bolster training programmes and incentivize those committed to serving their homeland.
Highlighting the severity of the distribution imbalance, Pate emphasised that while there are approximately 300,000 health professionals in Nigeria across various cadres, only 55,000 of them are doctors, with a disproportionate concentration in urban centres like Lagos and Abuja.
Pate cautioned against the global nature of the brain drain phenomenon, citing similar challenges faced by countries like India and Pakistan. He stressed the urgency of retaining skilled professionals, noting the loss of thousands of doctors and nurses to brain drain in recent years.
In response to concerns over working conditions and burnout among remaining healthcare workers, Pate assured ongoing efforts to improve training programmes, enhance work environments, and address issues such as working hours to mitigate the strain on the healthcare system.
As Nigeria grapples with the repercussions of the brain drain on its healthcare sector, policymakers continue to explore strategies aimed at retaining and supporting the nation’s medical workforce.
