The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has raised concerns over the growing shortage of medical personnel in the country, revealing that about 13,000 resident doctors have left Nigeria for greener pastures in the last 15 years.
The President of NARD, Dr. Muhammad Usman Suleiman, disclosed this during the association’s May Ordinary General Meeting held in Kano.
The meeting was themed, “Caring for Caregivers: Mental Health and Emotional Resilience in Residency Training.”
Dr. Suleiman said the migration of doctors, popularly known as the “Japa” syndrome, has placed enormous pressure on Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“Today, Nigeria has about one doctor serving between 10,000 and 13,000 people. We currently have only about 12,000 resident doctors catering for an estimated population of 250 million Nigerians,” he said.
He added that the number of consultant doctors in the country has also declined significantly over the years.
“About 15 years ago, Nigeria had roughly 14,000 consultants. Today, that figure has dropped to just a little above 7,000, further worsening the shortage of healthcare professionals,” he said.
Dr. Suleiman also disclosed that 15 resident doctors died within the last eight months from various illnesses, including cancer and Lassa fever.
According to him, the situation is worsening as more doctors continue to leave the country than those being trained.
“In 2024 alone, about 3,600 doctors completed their training, but unfortunately, 4,700 doctors left the country within the same period,” he said.
He attributed the trend to poor remuneration, unfavourable salary structures and difficult working conditions, calling on governments at all levels to improve doctors’ welfare and create incentives that will encourage them to remain in the country.
Despite the challenges, he commended the Kano State government for improving doctors’ remuneration and recruiting more healthcare workers to strengthen service delivery.
Speaking at the event, the Chairperson, Prof. Hadiza Galadanchi, said doctors’ well-being is directly linked to the quality of healthcare received by patients.
“Excessive workloads, inadequate rest and chronic stress affect not only the doctors but also the quality and safety of patient care,” she said.
Prof. Galadanchi, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, stressed the need for policies that support the mental health and welfare of healthcare workers.
Also speaking, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of doctors and strengthening the state’s healthcare sector.
Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, the governor said the state government had improved doctors’ remuneration and employed more medical personnel to reduce workload and discourage migration.
“We are committed to improving the well-being of doctors and strengthening healthcare services across the state. We have also recruited more doctors and improved remuneration to address the challenge of the Japa syndrome,” he said.
Comments
Add a comment