The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has sounded the alarm over a critical shortage of doctors, exacerbated by a significant exodus of medical professionals. At the conclusion of its Annual Delegates Conference and General Meeting in Katsina State—themed ‘The Universal Applicability of Care Standards for Patients and the Well-being of Health Care Providers’—NMA President Professor Bala Muhammad-Audu revealed alarming statistics.
“The population is growing, increasing the demand on each doctor, while simultaneously, doctors are seeking opportunities abroad,” Professor Muhammad-Audu stated in his communique. He highlighted a dramatic increase in emigration, stating that “15,000 doctors have left the country for opportunities overseas in the last five years.”
This mass departure has drastically altered the doctor-patient ratio. While the ideal ratio is 1:600, Professor Muhammad-Audu explained that the current situation is far more critical. “With approximately 30,000 practicing doctors and an estimated population of 240 million, the current ratio stands at a staggering 1:8000.”
Nigeria boasts a highly skilled medical workforce, attracting recruitment efforts from nations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia. However, Professor Muhammad-Audu attributed the emigration to challenges within the Nigerian healthcare system. He specifically called for “the payment of seven months of outstanding arrears and necessary adjustments to salaries for doctors in federal tertiary health institutions.”
The NMA is advocating for the universal adoption of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) across all sectors to alleviate the crisis. Furthermore, the association voiced its opposition to the proposed National Prescription Policy, asserting that only qualified doctors should prescribe medication.
The NMA’s commitment to improving healthcare access was evident in its recent outreach program in Katsina State, providing treatment for 500 patients, performing 100 eye surgeries, and distributing nutritional supplements to orphanages.
