Nigeria Loses 15,000-16,000 Doctors to Brain Drain in 5 Years, Says Health Minister

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, has revealed a concerning trend of brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector. Pate disclosed in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics that Nigeria has lost approximately 15,000 to 16,000 doctors to migration in the past five years. This phenomenon, known as ‘japa,’ has seen health personnel leaving the country in search of better living standards and higher salaries, significantly impacting Nigeria’s healthcare delivery.

According to Pate, the migration of health professionals has deprived Nigeria of its most skilled professionals, affecting the country’s health sector. Currently, Nigeria has around 300,000 health professionals across various cadres, including doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, and lab scientists. However, only 55,000 of them are doctors, with many practicing abroad, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The loss of trained doctors exacerbates existing healthcare delivery challenges, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address workforce distribution and retention. Pate emphasized that Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad are willing to return home, but this would require the provision of enabling infrastructure in the country.

Pate’s remarks underscore the critical need for Nigeria to address the factors driving brain drain in its health sector. Improving working conditions, providing competitive salaries, and enhancing healthcare infrastructure are essential steps to retain and attract skilled health professionals. Failure to address these issues could further strain Nigeria’s healthcare system and limit access to quality healthcare for its citizens.

TheGuardian News