Kwara Faces Severe Doctor Shortage: Only 650 Attend To Over 3.6 Million Population

The Kwara State Branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) on Tuesday alerted that only 650 doctors are serving a population of over 3.6 million in the state.

Dr. Ola Ahmed, the NMA Chairman, disclosed this during a press conference in Ilorin before the Association’s 2024 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference.

Ahmed, concluding his two-year term as chairman, highlighted that despite several accomplishments in the healthcare sector, the shortage of healthcare professionals remains a significant issue.

He noted that numerous health workers continue to migrate to other states and countries in search of better opportunities.

He said:

A lot of our colleagues have been lost to brain drain in the name of Japa. This has affected the delivery of services to the populace.

Apart from economic hardship, insecurity, and poor medical infrastructure are other reasons for the migration of doctors and other health workers from the state and the country.

It will be recalled that Dr Fatima Kyari, the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), revealed that in 2023, only 58,000 doctors nationwide renewed their annual practising licences, which is a stark reflection of the brain drain plaguing the nation’s health sector.

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