NMA Raises Alarm Over Doctor Shortage as Brain Drain Worsens
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed deep concern about Nigeria’s worsening healthcare crisis as thousands of doctors continue to emigrate annually for better opportunities abroad.
Critical Doctor-Patient Ratio Revealed
NMA President Bala Audu disclosed alarming statistics during the association’s 2025 Annual Delegates Conference in Katsina State, themed ‘The Universal Applicability of Care Standards for Patients and the Well-being of Health Care Providers’.
Audu revealed that approximately 15,000 doctors have left Nigeria in the past five years, creating a dangerous imbalance in healthcare delivery. While the recommended doctor-patient ratio stands at 1:600, Nigeria’s current reality shows a staggering 1:8,000 ratio.
“If you divide our estimated population of 240 million by the 30,000 practicing doctors, you get this crisis-level ratio,” Audu explained.
Root Causes of Medical Brain Drain
The NMA identified several key factors driving doctors abroad:
- Poor working conditions in Nigerian healthcare facilities
- Inadequate remuneration and benefits
- Unpaid arrears (up to seven months in some cases)
Audu emphasized that Nigerian doctors remain highly sought after globally, with active recruitment from the US, UK, and Saudi Arabia due to their exceptional training.
NMA’s Proposed Solutions
The association is advocating for:
- Universal implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS)
- Immediate payment of outstanding arrears to federal health workers
- Rejection of the proposed National Prescription Policy, maintaining doctors’ exclusive prescription rights
Community Outreach Efforts
Despite these challenges, the NMA continues serving communities. During the conference, they treated 500 patients, performed 100 eye surgeries, and distributed nutritional supplements to orphanages in Katsina.
Source: Premium Times