Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Medical doctors have raised a desperate alarm that Nigeria's healthcare system is hurtling toward a catastrophic collapse, with only about 55,000 physicians left to serve a population exceeding 220 million people—a doctor-to-patient ratio so perilous that it now ranks among the worst in the world, according to the Nigerian Medical Association. The warning, published on Thursday, June 18, 2026, during the Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Yaba, Lagos, painted a grim picture of a sector bleeding its most vital resource. Under the theme "Too Few Doctors, Too Many Patients: The Consequences of Manpower Shortage on the Mental Well-being of Nigerians," the doctors—many of whom are mental health specialists—declared that the sustained exodus of healthcare workers under the "Japa" syndrome has severely depleted the country's medical workforce, widened treatment gaps, and left millions of vulnerable Nigerians without access to care.
Confirming the staggering figures, the President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Professor Omoti Ernest, told journalists that while the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has registered over 130,000 doctors, only about 55,000 are still actively practicing within the country. This means that for every 3,600 to 4,000 Nigerians, there is just one doctor—a ratio far below the World Health Organisation's recommended threshold of one doctor per 600 people. The NMA president further disclosed that no fewer than 16,000 Nigerian-trained doctors have emigrated in the last five years alone, worsening an already dire manpower shortage. "Thousands of doctors and other healthcare professionals have left the country in recent years, leading to severe staff shortages, increased workload for those who remain with many suffering from burnout, longer waiting times for patients, and declining quality of care in many public hospitals," Ernest said. He noted that rural and under-served communities have been hit hardest, as they already struggle with limited access to healthcare services.
The doctor shortage has had a particularly devastating impact on psychiatric and mental healthcare services. According to the resident doctors, the mass exit of medical professionals has widened treatment gaps, increased healthcare costs, and placed enormous pressure on the few specialists still working in the country. An estimated 85 percent of Nigerians with mental disorders now lack access to treatment, a crisis that the doctors say is being compounded by the very shortage of those trained to treat them. The theme of the conference underscored a cruel irony: the very system that should be healing the nation's mental wounds is itself in a state of acute distress, with too few doctors to manage the growing burden of psychiatric illness in a population of over 220 million.
The NMA attributed the mass migration to a toxic mix of factors: poor remuneration, inadequate working conditions, insecurity, limited opportunities for career advancement, and insufficient investment in healthcare infrastructure. "Many professionals are attracted by better pay, improved facilities, and more stable environments in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States," Ernest explained. To stem the tide, the NMA president called on the Federal Government to prioritise salaries and welfare packages for healthcare workers, invest more in modern medical equipment and hospital infrastructure, expand residency and specialist training opportunities, and create clear career progression pathways. "Strengthening security, ensuring timely payment of wages, and providing incentives for professionals to work in under-served areas will also help retain talent," he added. The doctors also urged the government to partner with the private sector and engage the diaspora to encourage Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad to contribute their expertise to the development of the country's healthcare system. As Nigeria's population continues to swell and the exodus of doctors shows no sign of abating, the nation faces a stark reality: without urgent and sustained intervention, the healthcare system may soon be unable to guarantee even the most basic medical care for its citizens.
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