Medical doctors have warned that Nigeria’s healthcare system is under severe strain due to a worsening manpower crisis, with only about 55,000 doctors currently practising for a population of over 220 million people.
The concern was raised at the Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital (FNPH), Yaba, Lagos, themed “Too Few Doctors, Too Many Patients: The Consequences of Manpower Shortage on the Mental Well-being of Nigerians.”
The doctors, including mental health specialists, said the shortage is significantly worsening access to psychiatric care, leaving millions of Nigerians without adequate treatment.
They also disclosed that no fewer than 16,000 Nigerian doctors have left the country in the past five years, intensifying an already critical shortage in the health sector.
According to them, the sustained emigration of health workers under the popular “Japa” phenomenon has depleted the mental health workforce, widened treatment gaps, increased the cost of care, and placed enormous pressure on the few remaining professionals.
Confirming the development, the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Omoti Ernest, said data from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) shows that over 130,000 doctors are registered in the country, but only about 55,000 are actively practising.
He explained that this translates to roughly one doctor serving between 3,600 and 4,000 people—far above the World Health Organisation’s recommended ratio of one doctor to 600 patients.
“This ratio is far below the World Health Organisation’s recommended threshold of one doctor to about 600 people, highlighting the significant shortage of medical personnel and the strain on healthcare delivery,” he said.
Prof. Ernest noted that many Nigerian-trained doctors have either emigrated or left clinical practice entirely, further deepening workforce gaps in hospitals across the country.
He added that the migration of healthcare professionals in search of better opportunities abroad has had far-reaching consequences on Nigeria’s health system.
“Thousands of doctors and other healthcare professionals have left the country in recent years, leading to severe staff shortages, increased workload for those who remain with many suffering from burnout, longer waiting times for patients, and declining quality of care in many public hospitals,” he said.
He further warned that rural and underserved communities are the worst affected due to already limited access to healthcare services.
According to him, the push factors driving the exodus include poor remuneration, inadequate working conditions, insecurity, limited career progression opportunities, and underinvestment in healthcare infrastructure.
“Many professionals are attracted by better pay, improved facilities, and more stable environments in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States,” he added.
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