The Federal Government has raised serious concerns over the worsening shortage of medical doctors in Nigeria, revealing that the current doctor-to-patient ratio stands at a staggering 1:3,500, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended standard of 1:600.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Dr. Iziaq Salako, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, described the situation as “severe and worsening,” attributing the crisis to both global healthcare workforce shortages and aggressive recruitment of Nigerian doctors by foreign countries.
“There is a shortage of health workers globally, and also in Nigeria. In Nigeria today, we have a ratio of one doctor to 3,500 patients,” Salako stated. “Even sometimes, when we want to employ, we may not get enough to meet the demand.”
The doctor shortage poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s public health system. Urgent reforms and strategic investments are needed to reverse the trend and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians.