Nigeria’s Doctor-to-Patient Ratio Far Below WHO Standard

Nigeria’s healthcare sector continues to struggle with brain drain as thousands of doctors leave the country for better opportunities abroad.

According to a 2022 report from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the country had 55,000 licensed doctors serving a population of over 200 million, a ratio far below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation.

Lagos State had the highest number with 7,385 registered doctors, followed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with 4,453. Other states with significant numbers included Rivers (2,194), Enugu (2,070), Oyo (1,996), and Edo (1,777). Kano, one of Nigeria’s most populous states, had 1,477 doctors, a figure deemed insufficient given its healthcare demands.

Despite these numbers, the exodus of medical personnel has severely impacted Nigeria’s healthcare system.

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, revealed that around 16,000 doctors left the country in the last five years, with another 17,000 transferred. Between 2015 and 2022, over 5,000 Nigerian doctors migrated to the United Kingdom alone.

In an effort to address the healthcare workforce shortage, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has granted automatic employment to 54 postgraduate students who recently returned from India after completing their studies in health-related fields.

Speaking at the event, Governor Yusuf assured the graduates that all necessary arrangements had been finalized to absorb them into the state civil service to strengthen Kano’s health sector.

“For excelling in your studies, we have made all necessary arrangements to offer you automatic employment within the Kano State Civil Service. In a short while, your appointment letters will be issued to you through the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Head of Service,” the governor stated.

Governor Yusuf urged the graduates to apply the expertise they acquired abroad to improve healthcare services, particularly in reducing maternal mortality and addressing sickle cell anemia.

“What surprises me is seeing individuals who benefitted from government sponsorships leave their state to work elsewhere instead of contributing to their state’s development. We appeal to you to bring your wealth of knowledge and expertise to improve the lives of our people, especially women,” he emphasized.

As Nigeria continues to grapple with the effects of brain drain in the health sector, Kano State’s proactive approach offers a potential model for other states seeking to retain skilled medical professionals.

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