LAGOS — Medical professionals have raised concerns over the worsening shortage of doctors in Nigeria, warning that the country’s healthcare system is under significant strain, with only about 55,000 practicing doctors available to serve a population exceeding 220 million people.
The concerns were raised during the Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital (FNPH), Yaba, Lagos. The conference focused on the theme, “Too Few Doctors, Too Many Patients: The Consequences of Manpower Shortage on the Mental Well-being of Nigerians.”
Medical experts at the event said the shortage of healthcare workers is severely affecting access to mental health services, leaving millions of Nigerians without adequate care.
According to the doctors, more than 16,000 Nigerian doctors have emigrated over the past five years, worsening an already critical manpower deficit in the health sector. They noted that the continued migration of healthcare professionals, popularly known as the “Japa” phenomenon, has depleted the country’s mental health workforce, widened treatment gaps, increased healthcare costs, and placed overwhelming pressure on the few specialists still practicing in Nigeria.
President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Omoti Ernest, confirmed the situation, stating that although the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has registered over 130,000 doctors, only about 55,000 are currently practicing within the country.
He explained that with Nigeria’s population now above 220 million, the country has approximately one doctor for every 3,600 to 4,000 people, a figure far below the World Health Organisation’s recommended ratio of one doctor to about 600 people.
Prof. Ernest said the shortage has been driven largely by the migration of Nigerian-trained doctors seeking better opportunities abroad.
“Thousands of doctors and healthcare professionals have left Nigeria in recent years, resulting in severe staffing shortages, increased workloads for those who remain, longer waiting times for patients, and declining quality of care in many public hospitals,” he said.
He added that rural and underserved communities have been particularly affected due to their already limited access to healthcare services.
The NMA president identified poor remuneration, inadequate working conditions, insecurity, limited career growth opportunities, and insufficient investment in healthcare infrastructure as key factors driving the migration trend. He noted that many healthcare workers are attracted by better salaries, improved facilities, and more stable working environments in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.
To address the crisis, Prof. Ernest called on the Federal Government to improve salaries and welfare packages for healthcare workers, invest in modern medical equipment and hospital infrastructure, expand residency and specialist training programmes, and establish clear career progression pathways.
He also advocated stronger security measures, prompt payment of wages, incentives for healthcare workers serving in underserved areas, and increased collaboration with the private sector and Nigerian medical professionals in the diaspora.
Speaking at the conference, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Dr. Yesir Kareem, described the situation as particularly damaging to mental healthcare delivery.
According to him, more than 40 million Nigerians are living with mental health disorders, while approximately 85 percent of them do not have access to appropriate mental healthcare services.
“Only about 55,000 doctors remain to serve over 220 million Nigerians, while the doctor-to-patient ratio has fallen to more than one doctor per 10,000 patients,” he said.
Dr. Kareem warned that the shortage of psychiatrists and mental health specialists has resulted in delayed diagnosis, untreated illnesses, family breakdowns, substance abuse, unemployment, and premature deaths.
He further revealed that about 94,000 doctors and nurses have left Nigeria since the onset of the migration wave, citing poor remuneration, delayed salaries, excessive workloads, inadequate medical facilities, limited career advancement opportunities, and insecurity as major reasons for their departure.
President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), Dr. Veronica Nyamali, described the manpower shortage as a national crisis that has forced consultants to take on responsibilities typically handled by junior doctors.
“There are gaps everywhere. Work that should be done by four psychiatrists is now being managed by one or two people. Consultants are increasingly forced to fill lower-level positions because the doctors they are meant to supervise are no longer available,” she said.
Dr. Nyamali lamented that many doctors undergoing specialist training leave the country before completing their careers in Nigeria, creating persistent vacancies in psychiatric facilities nationwide.
She disclosed that Nigeria currently has fewer than 150 psychiatrists, a situation she said is making mental healthcare increasingly expensive and inaccessible, especially in rural communities where specialist services are virtually unavailable.
According to her, the shortage of specialists has also contributed to rising healthcare costs and reduced access to treatment, undermining efforts to achieve universal health coverage.
Dr. Nyamali further expressed concern over the shrinking pharmaceutical sector, noting that several pharmaceutical companies have reduced operations or exited the country, limiting access to newer psychiatric medications.
She warned that the increasing circulation of counterfeit medicines poses an additional challenge to effective treatment.
The APN president also highlighted the growing reliance on traditional and faith-based healers for mental healthcare. While acknowledging their influence in communities, she said psychiatrists are working with them to discourage harmful practices such as chaining, flogging, and unlawful confinement of individuals living with mental illnesses.
She linked the rising burden of mental health conditions in Nigeria to worsening economic hardship, unemployment, insecurity, kidnappings, substance abuse, and other traumatic experiences.
“Mental health challenges are increasing because many Nigerians are exposed to daily stress, poverty, violence, and uncertainty. Those already living with mental health conditions are experiencing more frequent relapses, while new cases continue to emerge,” she said.
Dr. Nyamali also pointed out that mental healthcare remains largely dependent on out-of-pocket payments, with many essential medications not covered by health insurance schemes, leaving families to shoulder substantial treatment costs.
President of ARD, FNPH Yaba, Dr. Okuwoga Temitope, described the shortage of doctors as a major threat to quality healthcare delivery, particularly in the mental health sector.
He said resident doctors are increasingly experiencing burnout, stress, anxiety, and depression due to overwhelming workloads resulting from manpower shortages.
The association called on federal and state governments to improve remuneration, strengthen welfare packages, expand specialist training opportunities, improve working conditions, and increase investment in mental healthcare.
The doctors also advocated the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare centres, wider deployment of telepsychiatry, and increased public awareness to reduce stigma and encourage early treatment.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the conference, the association reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the welfare of resident doctors and improving access to quality mental healthcare services across Nigeria.
The association also urged the management of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, to expedite the enrolment of newly employed resident doctors on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to prevent salary delays and financial difficulties.
The doctors, however, commended the hospital’s Medical Director, Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye, for restoring electricity supply to the Yaba and Oshodi branches of the institution after a prolonged outage, while calling for more reliable power supply to support patient care and residency training.
Nigeria Faces Severe Doctor Shortage as Medical Experts Warn of Growing Healthcare Crisis
