Nigeria’s healthcare system is facing growing pressure as medical professionals warn that the country is struggling with a severe shortage of doctors and mental health specialists.
Doctors raised the concern during the Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.
Health experts say the shortage is affecting healthcare delivery across the country and putting additional strain on hospitals already dealing with rising patient numbers.
According to the President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Prof Omoti Ernest, more than 130,000 doctors have been registered by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria over the years.
However, only around 55,000 are currently practicing in Nigeria.
With a population exceeding 220 million people, this leaves the country with roughly one doctor for every 3,600 to 4,000 people.
Medical experts say this falls significantly below the recommended ratio of one doctor for every 600 people.
The shortage has been linked largely to the continued migration of healthcare workers under the widely discussed “Japa” trend, where professionals leave Nigeria in search of better opportunities abroad.
Reports indicate that more than 16,000 doctors have left the country within the last five years, worsening staffing challenges across hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Doctors say the impact is becoming more visible in mental healthcare.
A Consultant Psychiatrist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Dr Yesir Kareem, said more than 40 million Nigerians are estimated to be living with mental health conditions.
He explained that nearly 85 percent of those affected do not have access to treatment.
Mental health experts also revealed that Nigeria currently has fewer than 150 psychiatrists available to care for millions of people.
The shortage has reportedly forced specialists to take on heavier workloads while reducing the time available for research and advanced medical care.
The President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, Dr Veronica Nyamali, said hospitals are now operating with major staffing gaps.
She warned that shortages are increasing the cost of care and making mental health services difficult to access, especially in rural communities.
Medical professionals say several factors continue to push healthcare workers out of the country.
They include poor salaries, inadequate working conditions, insecurity, limited career growth opportunities, and weak healthcare infrastructure.
Doctors have called on the government to improve salaries and welfare packages, expand specialist training, invest in modern healthcare facilities, and strengthen policies aimed at retaining medical professionals.
Health experts also believe partnerships with the private sector and stronger engagement with Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad could help improve the country’s healthcare system.
