Nigeria’s struggle to retain medical professionals is placing additional pressure on the healthcare system, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, has said.

Speaking at the United Kingdom Global Health Summit at the Royal College of Physicians in London, Salako noted that the migration of doctors and other health workers abroad, often referred to as “japa”, is widening manpower gaps and affecting service delivery across the country.

Nigeria currently has about four doctors per 10,000 people, below the minimum benchmark recommended by the World Health Organisation. The shortage affects access to care, particularly in rural and underserved communities, where patients often travel long distances to consult a qualified physician or rely on overstretched primary health facilities.

“The global health workforce crisis is not a future threat but a present emergency. Africa carries more than a quarter of the global disease burden but has less than three per cent of the global health workforce,” Salako said.

Data from the United Kingdom shows that more than 13,000 Nigerian health workers migrated there within a two-year period, making Nigeria one of the largest sources of foreign-trained personnel in the British health system. A survey by NOI Polls and Nigeria Health Watch found that more than half of Nigerian doctors have taken steps toward relocating abroad for better working conditions, pay, and professional opportunities.

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Health sector analysts cite multiple factors driving this trend, including inadequate infrastructure, limited access to modern medical equipment, delayed salaries in some public institutions, workplace safety concerns, long working hours, and poor staff-to-patient ratios.

Salako said the departure of trained doctors represents a loss of public investment. “Every doctor who leaves Nigeria represents a substantial investment in training, often exceeding 200,000 dollars,” he said.

Nigeria’s healthcare system faces chronic underfunding and heavy reliance on out-of-pocket payments. Public hospitals operate under pressure, with limited bed space, ageing equipment, and insufficient specialist personnel.

Experts warn that continued workforce losses could weaken service delivery and worsen health outcomes. Maternal and child mortality rates remain high, while preventable diseases pose risks in areas with limited access to medical professionals.

The Federal Government is addressing the manpower deficit through reforms under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, expanding training in medical schools, strengthening community health services through task-shifting policies, and engaging Nigerian health professionals in the diaspora for knowledge transfer and capacity building.

“No nation can solve the global health workforce crisis alone. The next pandemic or health emergency will not respect borders,” Salako said.

Meiza Nigeria