The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), Kano State branch, says about 570 doctors are currently serving more than 20 million people in government-owned hospitals across the state.
The association, an affiliate of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said the shortage was putting doctors under enormous pressure and making it difficult for hospitals to provide adequate care, particularly in rural communities.
The chairman of NAGGMDP in Kano, Naziru Nuhu, disclosed this at the association’s Ordinary General Meeting in KANO with theme: Good Documentation Practices/Hygiene in Hospital Setting.
Dr Nuhu said the doctor-to-patient ratio in the state was about one doctor to 12,000 patients, compared with the World Health Organisation’s recommended ratio of one doctor to between 600 and 1,000 patients.
He described the situation as “deeply troubling,” saying the shortage was stretching the capacity of the available doctors and other health workers.
He warned that the pressure on the health system could increase the risk of preventable deaths, especially in rural communities where access to healthcare is already limited.
NAGGMDP called on the Kano State Government to urgently recruit more doctors to replace those who had resigned, retired or otherwise left the public service.
The association also demanded payment of outstanding salary shortfalls and allowances owed to medical and dental practitioners in the state.
The outstanding payments, it said, include Teaching, Rural, Accoutrement and Specialist Allowances.
The doctors also complained about the non-payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund to eligible practitioners.
They said the Medical Residency Training Committee had yet to meet to identify and address challenges affecting residency training in the state.
The congress urged the state government to implement the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), approved in 2024, and pay the outstanding arrears.
NAGGMDP also called for modern medical equipment and improved working conditions in public hospitals, saying this would ease the pressure on health workers and improve patient care.
The association raised another concern over what it described as increasing cases of assault, harassment and intimidation of doctors and other medical workers.
It said the shortage of manpower, inadequate bed spaces, poor equipment and heavy workloads were among factors contributing to tensions in hospitals.
The congress specifically cited a recent incident at the Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Kano.
It called on hospital management and other stakeholders to strengthen security and protect healthcare workers.
“The safety and dignity of medical and dental practitioners is non-negotiable and must be protected at all costs,” the congress said.
The doctors also urged the Kano Government to domesticate and implement the Federal Government’s new policy on working hours and locum engagement in health institutions.
According to the association, implementing the policy would help reduce burnout among doctors and ensure appropriate compensation for additional work.
The association said it had submitted a detailed analysis of salary irregularities affecting medical and dental practitioners to relevant stakeholders for review and implementation in line with the approved revised CONMESS.
The congress, however, gave the state government a two-week ultimatum to address all its demands, including salary shortfalls, unpaid allowances, and residency training funds, or risk strike action.
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