Nigerian Doctor-Patient Ratio 1000 Per Cent Below WHO Standard – NMA

The President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Bala Audu, has revealed that Nigeria’s doctor-patient ratio is far below the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendations.

Speaking at a media conference in Abuja, Prof Audu stated that the doctor-patient ratio is about 1000per cent less than the WHO’s recommended standard.

This deficit is primarily driven by the brain drain of healthcare workers, commonly referred to as the ‘Japa Syndrome,” Audu remarked.

West Africa Weekly previously reported that Dr Fatima Kyari, the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), revealed that in 2023, only 58,000 out of 130,000 medical doctors renewed their annual practising licences, which is a stark reflection of the brain drain plaguing the nation’s health sector.

In his speech, Audu said poor equipment, increasing insecurity, poor working conditions, and low salaries are causing healthcare professionals to leave Nigeria.

“Recently, a survey conducted at a medical school asked new graduates whether they would stay in Nigeria or prefer to leave. The results were predictably disheartening,” he noted.  

“The situation is getting worse, but it is something we can mitigate,” he added.

According to Audu, the brain drain has severely reduced the number of healthcare providers, leading to an excessive workload for those remaining.

He called for immediate measures to improve health workers’ well-being, working conditions, and housing to stop the exodus.

Beyond improving their take-home package, which is crucial, we must also ensure healthcare providers have access to quality healthcare and education for their children. When better opportunities arise elsewhere, there is a strong tendency for them to leave,” he said.

He also stressed the need for a friendly work environment, noting that attacks on healthcare providers by patients’ relatives due to inadequate infrastructure are a major issue.

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