The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has sounded the alarm on the worsening doctor-patient ratio in Nigeria, which is now 1000% below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended standard.
Prof. Bala Audu, President of the NMA, revealed this alarming statistic during a media conference on the state of the nation’s health sector in Abuja on Wednesday.
“The doctor-patient ratio is about 1000% less than what the WHO recommended,” Prof. Audu stated. He attributed this deficit primarily to the “brain drain” phenomenon, commonly referred to as the ‘Japa Syndrome,’ where healthcare workers leave Nigeria for better opportunities abroad.
Prof. Audu highlighted several factors driving this exodus: inadequate equipment, worsening insecurity, poor working conditions, and subpar salary structures. He cited a recent survey conducted at a medical school where new graduates overwhelmingly indicated a preference to leave Nigeria. “The results were predictably disheartening,” he noted. “The situation is worsening, but it is something we can mitigate.”
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The brain drain has left the country with a significantly reduced number of healthcare providers, who are now burdened with an excessive workload as they strive to maintain quality healthcare standards. “This excess workload requires every healthcare provider in the country to do significantly more to ensure the delivery of quality healthcare acceptable to all Nigerians,” Prof. Audu explained.
To reverse this trend, Prof. Audu emphasized the need for immediate measures to improve the well-being of health workers, provide a better working environment, and implement housing schemes for doctors. “Beyond improving their take-home package, which is crucial, we must also ensure healthcare providers have access to quality healthcare and education for their children,” he said. “When better opportunities arise elsewhere, there is a strong tendency for them to leave.”
Prof. Audu also stressed the importance of a friendly workplace environment, noting that attacks on healthcare providers, often by patients’ relatives due to inadequate infrastructure, are a significant concern. “Improving healthcare facilities is essential,” he stated.
Despite these challenges, Prof. Audu commended the Federal Government’s strategy to address the healthcare workforce shortage by doubling the enrolment quota for medical, nursing, and other health professional schools.
However, he stressed that success in this initiative requires substantial improvements in training facilities. “For instance, if a medical school previously admitted 200 students yearly and now plans to admit 400, it must double its accommodation and training facilities to maintain quality,” he pointed out.
Prof. Audu expressed concern over the lack of immediate employment for healthcare graduates, despite the significant investment Nigeria makes in training them. “If we don’t employ them promptly, other countries will, given the high demand for health professionals,” he warned.
These issues, he added, are being discussed with the government to ensure improvements, enabling Nigeria to continue producing high-quality health professionals for both the country and the global market.
In the month of May, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, announced an increase in the enrolment quota for medical, nursing, and other health professional schools from 28,000 to 64,000 yearly as part of efforts to mitigate the brain drain in the health sector.